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ENGLISH
Quarter 1-Module 2: Lesson 1
Inferring Meaning
of Compound Words

Department of Education - MIMAROPA Region

 Development Team of the Module
Author: Josephine L. Malaluan
Editors: Adelardo I. Malaluan,PhD, Hazel Portia C. Austria
Reviewers: Julie Ann Cueto, Adrian Anthony D. Osano
Illustrators: Alexander P. Abeleda, Edhen P. Martin, Louie J. Cortez, Jefferson Repizo
Layout Artist: Mark Roger A. Dacayanan
Management Team:
BENJAMIN D. PARAGAS, CESO V ATTY. SUZETTE T. GANNABAN -MEDINA
Director IV Chief Administrative Officer
Regional Director OIC, Office of the Assistant Regional Director

MARIFLOR B. MUSA ROGER F. CAPA, CESO VI ARNALDO G. VENTURA, PhD RAQUEL P. GIRAO, PhD
Chief CLMD SDS ASDS CID Chief

FREDDIE REY RAMIREZ EDNA C. OABEL ADELARDO I. MALALUAN, PhD ELIZABETH T. DELAS ALAS, PhD
LRMDS SUPERVISOR EPS - English Division EPS LRMDS Supervisor

What I Need To Know

After going through this module, you are expected to:

 Get the meaning of some unfamiliar compound words based on

the context clues (synonyms, antonyms, and other parts) used in

the sentences.

 Improve your vocabulary and use them in your daily life.

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 What I Know

You have learned in your previous lesson how to fill out forms

accurately such as information sheet, deposit and withdrawal slips. Try again

to fill out an information sheet using the data below.

Arnel E. Lacerna (Student) San Jose Hospital

Michael Lacerna 291-12-58

Driver Housewife

3 Magsaysay Elem. School

June 30, 1995 Grade 5 - Einstein

Arnoldus, Labangan, San Jose City Isabel Lacerna

Guidance Form

Name______________________________________ ______________
Family Name First Name MI Grade/Section

Date of Birth__________________________ Place_________________

Father _______________________________ Occupation____________

Mother_______________________________ Occupation____________

Address______________________________ Tel. No._______________

No. of brothers/sisters enrolled in school __________________

School last attended_______________________

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 Lesson Inferring Meaning
1 of Unfamiliar Compound Words

As an intermediate learner, you must know how to infer the

meaning of some unfamiliar words like compound words based on their

synonyms or antonyms used in sentences without using the dictionary. It is

necessary for you to enhance your vocabulary in order to comprehend what

you are reading and saying.

What’s In

Read the story below and answer the questions after it.
Unforgettable Vacation
Peng stood at the door of his grandparents’ house. He
watched black clouds rolled across the sky. He spent his vacation on
the farm together with his cousin Joy. “We’ve been stuck here at Lolo’s
house all week because of
this rain,” complained Peng
to Joy. “Then I wanted to go
into the town with Mom and
Dad today,” Peng added.
With an angry
click, he turned on the
radio.” This word has just
come in,” a man said. There
is a chance of a flashflood in
a Nicole’s Valley. The water in Caguray Lake has reached the top of the
dam. The dam could move to higher ground right away.
“Should we leave”, Joy asked.

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 “No, Mom, Dad and Lolo will be home soon. I don’t want to
leave until they get here.” Peng answered.
Peng was upset. He had loved their vacations at Nicole’s
Valley. He had fished in the river that ran in front of their Lolo’s house.
He had climbed in the steep hills that rose sharply on each side. From
the top of the hills, he had looked out over the whole valley below. But
this year the rain had spoiled everything.
The sky grew darker. Heavy rain hammered against the
windows, and thunder shook the house.” “Peng, I’m scared,” Joy said.
“What if the dam breaks?”
“It won’t”, Peng said.” Besides, the dam is four miles from
here.” He hoped Joy believed him. Peng didn’t want Joy to know how
scared he was.
The radio stopped in the middle of the song. A man came on
the air talking aloud and fast. “The Caguray Lake Dam has broken.
Everyone in Nicole’s Valley must move to high ground NOW.
Peng’s heart pounded. “Let’s get out there!” he cried. He
grabbed Joy’s arm and pulled him outside. They could hear a terrible
thunder that wouldn’t stop.
Peng and Joy dashed towards the trail behind their Grandpa’s
house. As they ran, Peng looked back. He saw a giant wall of water
rushing down the valley. It was knocking down everything in its path.
Whole trees were being carried away. Lolo’s house was breaking apart
like toys.
“Faster, Joy, faster!” Peng’s screamed. They hurried up the
slippery trails.
Peng looked back again. The wall of water was coming
faster. In another minute it would hit them.
Peng saw a large tree ahead. “Quick, Joy, climb that tree!”
He pushed Joy up to the lowest branch. Then, he grabbed a hold of it
and pulled himself up.
Peng and Joy were halfway up the tree when the water hit.
They held on as tightly as they could.

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 “Lolo’s house!” Joy cried. They saw the wall of water crashed
into the house. A few seconds it was gone.
In a short time, the floodwater began to go down. Peng and
Joy climbed down from the tree. They made their way to the hillcrest.
Peng cried when he saw what the flood had done. The once
beautiful valley was now full of ugly mud. Most of the trees and houses
were gone.
“I’m glad we made it,” Joy said. She gave her cousin Peng a
quick hug and then grinned.

Comprehension Check:
1. Why were Peng and Joy at their Lolo’s house?
2. Why did Peng and Joy quickly get out of the house?
3. How did the two children escape the flood water?
4. In what part of the tree were the two children when the water hit?
5. After the flood water began to go down, where did they go when they
climbed down the tree

What’s New
The italicized words in the following passages from the
reading text are examples of compound words.
A. Peng and Joy were halfway up the tree when the water hit.
B. They made their way to the hillcrest.

Compound words are words with new meanings that are formed when two

or more words are combined. We can find the meaning of it through the hints

or context clues found in a sentence. Let’s try to identify the meaning of

italicized compound words below.

1.The boys were halfway up the tree and when the floodwater hit it
midway; they hold on as tightly as they could.
2. Reaching the hillcrest, they saw the destruction made by the
busted dam including the trees and plants on the other hilltop.

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Which word in the first sentence means the same as halfway? Which word

in the second sentence is synonymous to hillcrest?

One way of knowing the meaning of a compound word is to look for its

synonyms or the word that has same meaning as the given word. It could

be found near or after the given word in the sentence. In the first sentence,

the synonym of half way is midway and the word hillcrest is synonymous to

hilltop.

Writers sometimes use the opposite word or its antonym to give context

clues to what it means.

Example:

An overdose of the medicine you take or the lack of it will be harmful

to you.

Where you able to get the meaning of compound words through the

antonym given in the sentence? What word in the sentence is the opposite of

overdose?

ACTIVITY 1
Directions: Identify the meaning of the bold words using context clues

given. Write the letter of the correct answer in your notebook.

1.I was outraged when I saw that bully pushing the boy.

a. interested b. shocked c. angered

2. The politician’s plan has many drawbacks: therefore, the people rejected

it.

a. advantages b. problems c. parts

3. I don’t want to do my homework when I’m in the house.

a. assignment b. goal c. objectives

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4. May experience with the earthquake was horrible. The wall of our kitchen

cracked.

a. typhoon b. tremor c. cyclone

5.During typhoons, classrooms are utilized as evacuation centers.

a. room in a house b. part of a building c. school house

What Is It
We must also remember that compound words have three different types.

Compound words may be closed (written as one), open (written with space between

words), or hyphenated (connected by a hyphen). Study the examples given below.

Types Examples

Closed Someone, seaplane, raincoats, newspaper

Open Time zone, home port, mother tongue, hot dogs

Hyphenated Mother-of-pearl, son-in-law, passers-by, name-

calling

The meaning of the compound words can be inferred through the

synonyms and antonyms found in a sentence.

What’s More
Activity 2
Underline the synonyms of the italicized words in the following

sentences.

1. The campground or campsite of the Girl Scouts is that farm over there.

2. My father wears his outfit of uniform when he is on duty.

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3. Put the headlight or your car’s headlamp to low.

4. Famers follow a timetable, that is, s schedule for planting and harvesting.

5. Clear the hallway. Get out the corridor, so the patient can pass. .

Activity 3

Choose the antonym of the italicized words in the following sentences, and

then give their meaning. Write in your notebook.

1. Some houses in Baguio City have fireplaces rather than air conditioners.

2. Instead of tailgating us, why don’t you leave.

3. Would you rather walk in the starlight than in the clear sunlight?

4. Grandmother chooses to be an outpatient. She doesn’t want to be confined

in the hospital.

5. The teacher asked us to fold the paper lengthwise, not crosswise.

What I Have Learned

Compound words are words formed by putting two or more words

together to form a new word with a new meaning.

To understand the meaning of the compound word, it is important to

determine the meaning of each word through its synonyms and antonyms.

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 What I Can Do

Infer the meaning of the underlined compound word in each

sentence by encircling its context clues.

1. We have read the headline of the newspaper today; it is a front story

written in bold letter.
2. The keywords must be in uppercase because it is easier to emphasize
if they are in capital letters.
3. The sky was overcast, rain was expected because it was a cloudy
afternoon.
4. Instead of hiding the alleged news about illegal logging, the policeman
broadcasts the issue to the public.
5. Parents provide backshop during Brigada Eskwela. Their assistance is
very much appreciated.

Assessment
Identify the meaning of the underlined compound word in
each sentence.
1. Jodel wants to stay at the backside not in front of the gymnasium.
2. Manny Pacquiao experienced being defeated and it was his first
knocked-out in his fights.
3. Joseph found a thin black leather billfold, a wallet given by his mother
while cleaning a small bag.
4. Mr. Lerio gives pieces of advice to his son-in-law. The husband of his
daughter wants to go abroad.
5. Since the payment is late or overdue, we will be paying more.

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 Answer Key
What I Know

Guidance Form
Name__Lacerna___________Arnel___________E Grade 5- Einstein
Family Name First Name MI Grade/Section

Date of Birth June 30, 1995 Place: San Jose Hospital

Father Michael Lacerna Occupation Driver
Mother Isabel Lacerna Occupation Housewife

Address Arnoldus, Labangan, San Jose City Tel. No 291-12-58

No. of brothers/sisters enrolled in school _3

School last attended Magsaysay Elem. School

What’s In
Comprehension Check:
1. For a vacation
2. Because the dam has been broken and
the water came rushing down the valley.
3. They climbed up the tree.
4. Halfway
5. Hill crest
What’s New

1. C
2. B
3. A
4. B
5. C
What’s More!

Activity 1 Activity 2

1. Air conditioners
1. campsite
2. uniform 2. leave
3. headlamp
3. sunlight
4. schedule
4. confined
5. corrido
5. crosswise

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 What I can Do

1. Front story

2.Capital letters

3.Cloudy

4.Hiding

5.Assistance

Assessment

1. Front
2. Defeated
3. Wallet
4. Husband of his
daughter
5. Late

References:

Castillo, Kristine Erika C, 2016, Joy in Learning English 5

pp. 18-20

Mendoza, Rebecca DL, Essential English 5, pp. 2-4, 14

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVaKMDWRrKQ

Prepared by :

JEANALD V. HERRERA

Bagong Buhay Elementary School – Victoria