Skip to main content
Academy11+

11+ Comprehension · Topic explained

Inference: reading between the lines

How can you know something the writer never says?

The big idea

Inference means using clues in the text to work out what the writer suggests.

Picture it

Be a detective: a dripping coat and muddy boots tell you it's raining outside.

Key words

Infer
Work something out from clues.
Clue
A detail in the text that points to an idea.
Suggest
Hint at something without saying it straight out.

Worked examples

  1. 1Warm-up

    "Sam's lip wobbled as he stared at the broken model plane." How does Sam feel?

    • Clue: lip wobbled.
    • Sam feels upset, close to tears.
  2. 211+ standard

    "Mr Harlow checked his watch for the third time, tapping his foot as the queue crept forward." What can you infer about Mr Harlow?

    • Clues: third time, tapping his foot, crept.
    • He is impatient, probably in a hurry.
  3. 311+ standard

    "The kitchen smelled of burnt toast, and the smoke alarm was still shrieking as Dad flung open every window." What has happened?

    • Nobody says "Dad burnt the toast".
    • But the clues prove it.
  4. 411+ standard

    "Priya hadn't touched her dinner. She kept glancing at the envelope on the shelf, the one with the school's crest on it." Why might Priya not be eating?

    • Clues: untouched dinner, glancing at a school letter.
    • She is probably nervous about news inside it.

The common mistake

The mistake

Inference is just guessing, so any idea will do.

Instead

Every inference must be backed by a clue in the text.

Why: If you can't point to the words that made you think it, it's a guess, not an inference.

Where it comes up in the 11+

"What does this suggest…?", "How can you tell…?", "Why do you think…?"

The video

Video coming soon

We're making a short video that explains inference: reading between the lines step by step. Until then, everything it covers is on this page.

Free printable

Inference: reading between the lines worksheet

Practice questions on this topic to print and try on paper, at home or on the way to school.

Download the worksheet (PDF)

Free account needed: it takes a minute.

Quick quiz

Have a go first, then tap to see the answer.

  1. 1. "Jo zipped her coat right up to her chin and stamped her feet." What can we infer?

    • It is cold
    • Jo is angry
    • Jo is late
    • It is summer
    Show the answer

    It is cold

    Zipping a coat up high and stamping feet are things we do to keep warm.

  2. 2. Inference means…

    • Copying words from the text
    • Working out what is suggested, using clues
    • Guessing anything you like
    • Counting the paragraphs
    Show the answer

    Working out what is suggested, using clues

    Inference uses clues from the text, never pure guesswork.

  3. 3. "The dog's tail thumped the floor as Dad lifted the lead off its hook." How does the dog feel?

    • Excited
    • Scared
    • Bored
    • Sleepy
    Show the answer

    Excited

    A thumping tail and the lead coming out mean a walk is coming.