- Definition
An inference is an educated guess or a conclusion you make based on the information you have, even if that information isn't directly stated.
If a story says 'The boy put on his boots and grabbed an umbrella,' you can infer it is raining outside.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Making an inference is like being a detective and using clues in a story to figure out something that isn't said out loud.
Ask your child: The character is frowning. What do you think happened?
Common mix-up: Kids may think the answer is always written on the page. An inference is a smart guess you make using clues from the story and what you already know about the world.
Examples
- When a character's stomach rumbles in a story, you can infer they are hungry.
- Seeing a character with a big smile and a new toy lets you infer they are happy.
inference is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
