Clarifying Meaning in Literature


When you read, you will encounter unfamiliar language and difficult sentence structures.


Break down complicated sentence structures by first locating the sentences main subject and verb. Then, identify objects, modifiers, and phrases. Try restating the sentences more simply, rearranging word order if necessary.

A word's context--the words and sentences surrounding it--often gives clues to a word's meaning. Dialects, for example, have their own rules of grammar and pronunciation that you can figure out from context clues.

Consult references if needed.

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