Making Inferences: Reading Between the Lines

What is an inference?

An inference is a smart idea you work out yourself. The writer does not say it in words, but the clues tell you anyway. 🕵️ We say you are reading between the lines.

The inference recipe 🧠

There is an easy recipe:

Inference = clues in the text + what you already know

The text gives you clues. Your own knowledge fills in the rest. Put them together and you make an inference.

Try one

Read this short passage:

Ben opened the front door. He shook the water from his coat and left two wet boot prints on the mat. ☔

The text never says "it is raining." But you can infer it! The clues are water on his coat and wet boot prints. You already know that rain makes things wet. So your inference is: it is raining outside.

Inferring feelings 😊😢

Writers often hint at how a character feels instead of telling you.

Priya read the letter, then jumped up and hugged her brother.

The clues jumped up and hugged tell you Priya feels happy or excited. That is an inference about feelings.

Inferring time and place

Clues can tell you when and where a story happens:

Clue in the text	A good inference
Stars shone and the owl hooted	It is night-time 🌙
Waves crashed and seagulls cried	They are at the seaside 🌊
The bell rang and bags were packed	School is ending 🔔

Prove it with the clue 🔎

A good reader can always say why. After you make an inference, point to the clue:

• "I think Sam is hungry because his tummy rumbled and he looked at the lunchbox."

Naming the clue shows you read carefully.

Play and practise

Play the matching game to pair each clue with the right inference. Then flip the detective flashcards to remember the inference recipe.

Keep going

Try these next:

• Guess what comes next: Making Predictions When Reading
• Build the basics: Reading Comprehension Basics

Now you can read between the lines like a true detective! 🌟