comprehension/summary-reading for contextual meaning of words: - SS3 English Lesson Note

Contextual meaning is the meaning of a word that is determined by the context in which it is used. For example, the word "chair" can have different meanings depending on the context. In the sentence "I sat in the chair," the word "chair" refers to a piece of furniture. However, in the sentence "The chairman of the board is speaking," the word "chair" refers to a person who is in charge of a meeting.

It is important to be able to distinguish between the contextual meaning of a word and its literal meaning. The literal meaning of a word is the meaning that it has when it is used in isolation. For example, the literal meaning of the word "chair" is "a piece of furniture with a seat and back, typically supported by four legs." However, the contextual meaning of the word "chair" can vary depending on the context in which it is used.

One way to learn to distinguish between the contextual meaning of a word and its literal meaning is to read for context. When you are reading, pay attention to the words and phrases that surround the word that you are trying to understand. These words and phrases can help you to determine the contextual meaning of the word.

Another way to learn to distinguish between the contextual meaning of a word and its literal meaning is to practice using words in different contexts. When you are speaking or writing, try to use words in different ways to see how their meaning changes depending on the context.

Here is an example of how the contextual meaning of a word can differ from its literal meaning:

• Literal meaning: The word "chair" refers to a piece of furniture with a seat and back, typically supported by four legs.
• Contextual meaning: In the sentence "The chairman of the board is speaking," the word "chair" refers to a person who is in charge of a meeting.

As you can see, the contextual meaning of the word "chair" in the sentence "The chairman of the board is speaking" is different from its literal meaning. In this sentence, the word "chair" refers to a person, not a piece of furniture.