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ELA 4: Complete Sentences
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In this lesson we'll subject you to some verbs and predicates. Each one is a necessary part of a complete breakfas—er...sentence.

ELA 4: Word Choice
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Choosing words carefully is important. You may end up vexing the assemblage of citizens you're conversing with...or you might even just plain bore...

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ELA 4: Similes and Metaphors 248 Views


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Description:

A metaphor is a simile, just minus the "like" or "as." We'll learn all about how not to be confused by either in today's video.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:04

[Coop and Dino singing]

00:13

Smart.

00:14

Clever.

00:14

Intelligent.

00:15

Brilliant.

00:15

Bright.

00:16

Sharp.

00:16

Wise.

00:17

These are all synonyms, or different words that mean more or less the same thing. [Coop explaining synonyms]

00:21

But you already knew that.

00:22

Why?

00:23

Because you’re smart.

00:23

Or clever.

00:24

Or bright.

00:25

Or…well, you get the idea.

00:26

Synonyms are great because they help make our writing more interesting and exciting. [Girls writing in class]

00:30

But what if we're not in the mood to use a synonym?

00:33

What if we’re just bored of them or tired, fed up, disinterested…

00:36

Sorry.

00:37

We kind of got on a synonym roll.

00:38

Which is a lot less delicious than a cinnamon roll. [Plate of cinnamon rolls appear]

00:41

Heh.

00:42

Well, it's a-okay to be tired of 'em!

00:43

Why?

00:44

Because there are more things that can spice up our writing! [Man in kitchen with a paper and spice pots appear]

00:47

We're talking similes and metaphors.

00:50

Like synonyms, similes and metaphors are tools that help us write more descriptively.

00:54

But how exactly do we go about using similes and metaphors? [Man holding a simile spice pot]

00:57

Let's start with a simile.

00:58

A simile is a type of figurative language that helps us compare two dissimilar things

01:02

to each other, using the words “like” or “as.” [Coop explaining what a simile is]

01:05

For example: you're a student, right?

01:07

Or maybe just an over-the-top Shmoop enthusiast…

01:09

Which is totally cool, too. [A man sitting on a bed with shmoop items]

01:11

But are you a bee?

01:12

Well, probably not, because then you wouldn’t understand a word we’re saying.

01:16

But just because a student and a bee aren't exactly the same thing doesn't mean we can't [A bee with a boys face flying near flowers]

01:20

compare them.

01:21

So we might say something like, “The student was busy as a bee.”

01:24

Why?

01:25

Well, we know that bees are always buzzing around and look super duper busy.

01:29

So if a student is as busy as a bee, that must mean that they're loaded down with work [Girl walking into school]

01:33

and zooming from one thing to the next!

01:36

It's just a way more fun way of saying, “The student is super busy.” [Girl walking in school hallway]

01:39

Here are a few more examples…

01:41

“He was as brave as a lion.”

01:42

“She was as bright as the sun.”

01:44

“She sang like an angel."

01:46

"He slept like a dog" [Examples of similes]

01:48

All of these are similes that make comparisons using like or as.

01:51

Got it?

01:52

Metaphors, on the other hand, are a little different.

01:54

They don't use “like” or “as." [Dino teaching what metaphors are]

01:56

Instead, they paint an image for the reader to picture in their head.

01:59

So while a simile uses the word as to say...

02:02

“He was as brave as a lion”

02:04

A metaphor would simply say

02:06

“He was a brave lion.”

02:08

This metaphor makes us imagine the boy as an actual brave lion, instead of just being [A lion with a boys face in tall grass]

02:12

like one.

02:13

This paints an image in the reader's head…even if it is a kind of weird image…

02:18

Other examples of metaphors that paint word pictures like this include...

02:21

“Her tears were a flowing river.”

02:23

“Her smile was a million shining stars.”

02:26

“He was a speeding race-car.” [Metaphor example sentences]

02:28

Each of these metaphors makes the reader paint an image in their head, instead of simply

02:32

comparing two things, like they would in a simile. [Girl in a cafe walks away crying]

02:34

So the next time you're trying to spice up your writing and don't feel like using a synonym,

02:38

try a simile or metaphor instead.

02:40

They're still not as delicious as a cinnamon roll, but they'll do in a pinch. [Girl eating plate of cinnamon rolls]

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