Making Inferences Notes & Questions | Class 5 English | Drishti OS

Making Inferences

What you'll learn

An inference is a smart guess based on clues in the passage — it is not stated directly, but the clues point to it.
Good readers combine clues with what they already know to figure out the "hidden" meaning.
To answer "what can you tell", "what is likely true", or "why did this happen" questions.
To find the specific clue (evidence) that supports an inference.

Key concepts

Level 1 — Reading between the lines

Verbal: Some things in a passage are never said directly, but the details make them clear.

Clue in passage	What we can infer
"She wore a sweater, gloves, and a cap."	The weather is cold.
"The plate was empty with crumbs on it."	Someone already ate the food.

Level 2 — Combining multiple clues

Verbal: Sometimes you need more than one clue together to make a good inference.

Example: "The dog wagged its tail and ran to the door, barking happily." → Combining "wagged tail" (happy) + "ran to the door" (excited about someone arriving) tells us someone the dog loves has come home.

Real-life: When your friend keeps looking at the clock and packing again and again, you can infer they are excited about going somewhere soon — even if they don't say it.

Worked example

Passage: "The ground was wet with puddles everywhere, but the sun was now shining brightly."

What can you infer?

Step 1 — Wet ground and puddles suggest water fell recently.
Step 2 — Sun shining now means the weather has since cleared.
Answer: It had rained earlier, and the weather has now cleared up.

Common mistakes

Mistake	Why it happens	Fix
Choosing an idea not supported by any clue	Guessing randomly	Base every inference on a clue in the text
Using only outside knowledge, ignoring the passage	Relying on personal experience alone	Combine passage clues with what you know
Picking the most dramatic answer	Distracted by exciting options	Choose the answer the clues actually support
Confusing a direct statement with an inference	Not noticing what is directly said	An inference is never directly stated in the text

Quick check

Passage: "He wore a raincoat and carried an umbrella." What can you infer about the weather?
Passage: "The trophy shone on the shelf, and everyone clapped for her." What can you infer happened?
Name one clue that helps you infer someone is happy.
Stretch: Write two sentences with clues, then ask a friend to infer what is happening.

Revision tip: After reading any short passage, ask "What does this tell me that isn't written directly?"

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Making Inferences.

Making Inferences