Readers make inferences by combining details provided by the author with their own background knowledge to fill in information not explicitly stated. When making an inference, readers add what they already know to what an author has told them. Examples show how stating part of the context and combining it with additional known information leads to an inferred conclusion.

2. Authors don’t
always tell every
detail or give every
bit of information in
nonfiction or in
fiction stories.

3. Readers make
inferences to supply
information that
authors leave out.

4. W hen you make an
inference, you add
what you already
know to what an
author has told you.

5. Examples

6. W the author said + what I know
hat = my
inference
The Summer
weather is the
had been hottest It is
scorching time of summer.
for weeks. the year.

7. W the author said + what I know
hat = my
inference
Al took You keep Al took
out a things the
pitcher of cold in a lemonade
cold refridger- out of the
lemonade. ator. refridger-
ator.

8. W the author said + what I know
hat = my
inference
People get
He got a out Al wanted
glass out glasses to drink a
of the when they glass of
cupboard. want to lemonade.
drink
something
.