Reading Between the Lines

Sometimes, a story doesn't tell you everything. Making inferences means you use clues from the text and what you already know to figure things out.

How to Make Inferences

• Combine what the story says with your own knowledge.
• Look for hints in the characters' actions or words.
• Think about what probably happened, even if the author doesn't say it directly.

Why Does It Matter?

Inferences help you understand feelings, predict what might happen next, and get the "big picture" of a story.

Real-World Uses

You make inferences when you guess what your friend is feeling or figure out what someone means, even if they don't say it.