Inference

What is Inference?

Inference means reading between the lines — using clues in a text combined with your own knowledge to draw conclusions that are not directly stated.

Good readers don't just understand what a text says; they understand what it implies.

The Inference Formula

Text clue + Your knowledge = Inference

"Jake grabbed his umbrella before heading outside."

• Text clue: umbrella
• Your knowledge: umbrellas are used in rain
• Inference: It is probably raining outside.

Types of Inferences

Character inferences — understanding a character's feelings, motivations, or personality from their actions:

• Sarah bit her nails as she waited for her results. → She is nervous or anxious.

Setting inferences — working out time and place from context clues:

• Outside, the leaves crunched under her feet and her breath formed little clouds. → It is autumn or winter.

Event inferences — predicting what might happen next or understanding what has already happened.

Checking Your Inference

A good inference is:

1. Supported by evidence from the text
2. Logical — it makes sense
3. Not just a guess — there must be a reason for it

❌ "Jake was going to the cinema" — no evidence for this ✅ "It was raining or cold outside" — the umbrella supports this