A friendly introduction to reading comprehension skills for the SSAT Elementary Level.
An inference is when you use clues from the story and what you already know to figure something out that isn't directly said.
Inferences help you understand deeper meanings and read between the lines.
When your friend looks sad and quiet, you might infer that they had a bad day, even if they don’t say it.
The story says Max put on his raincoat and grabbed an umbrella. You can infer that it's raining.
Sara’s face turned red and she hid behind her book. You can infer she is feeling shy.
An inference is a smart guess based on clues and your own knowledge.