Inferences

MAKING INFERENCES

What is ‘inference’?

• MAKING INFERENCE
• is making conclusion by combining the clues from what you read, see or hear with your background knowledge.

• What clues do you get?

• What do I know?

• What is my inference?

HOW?

• Clues (from the text, from the picture, from observation)

• Background knowledge (from previous experiences or learning)

• Guessing (new understanding)

Sentences we use to make inferences

• Perhaps, ____
• Perhaps, he is a doctor.
• Maybe, ____
• Maybe, she was late for work.
• I think ___
• I think the weather is nice.
• I’m sure ____
• I’m sure they are related.

• Above 50% sure

• 50% sure

• Below 50% sure

• Almost 100% sure

FOR EXAMPLE

• Making inferences from pictures

Picture 1:

• Middle aged lady
• Wearing a cap
• Wearing glasses
• Checked shirt

• Wearing earring
• Holding a camera
• Big glass windows
• Looking out of the window

• Clues from the picture?

• Your inferences?
• She is probably a professional photographer (she is holding a camera)
• She is going to take a photograph
• I think she is on a bus or train (she is taking a train or bus)

• What do you know?
• Professional photographer uses sophisticated camera?
• Someone who is holding a camera will use it to take picture
• We can find big glass windows on a bus or train.

Picture 2

• 1 baby girl
• 3 ladies
• 1 bicycle
• flowers

• Sunny day
• Big wall
• Casual clothing
• Look comfortable with each other

• Clues from the picture?

• Your inferences?
• They are probably related (their faces look similar)
• Perhaps, they are not far from home (they are riding a bicycle)
• I think the weather is nice.

• What do you know?
• Family look alike
• People wear casual clothing to attend casual events
• People cannot go to far when riding a bicycle

Try this!

• Clues from the picture?
• What you know?
• Your inferences?

EXAMPLE 2

• Making inferences from simple text

Number 1

• What the text said + what I know = my inference

• We need Bob to help us.

• We need someone to help if we are in trouble.

• We are in trouble

• What the text said + what I know = my inference

• The weather had been very hot for weeks.

• Summer is the hottest time of the year.

• It is summer.

• What the text said + what I know = my inference

• Jane took out a bottle of cold water.

• You keep things cold in a refridger-ator.

• Jane took the water out of the refridger-ator.

• What the text said + what I know = my inference

• He took out some money from the pocket.