Year 6 English: Inferring feelings, thoughts and motives, with evidence
Part of the Year 6 English reading fiction and plays chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Inferring feelings, thoughts and motives, with evidence
An inference is a sensible conclusion that the reader draws from the evidence in the text. The writer does not always say how a character feels. Read what the character does, thinks and says, and then infer the feeling, thought or motive, with evidence.
Marta, the lighthouse keeper's daughter, keeps the lamp lit during a storm.
Every evening, Marta climbed the one hundred and twelve steps of the lighthouse to trim the lamp. Her father had done the job for thirty years, but his hands had grown stiff, and now the task belonged to her. She had watched him climb those steps since she was small, and she knew every crack in the stone. Each step was a promise that she would keep the light burning for the boats.
On the night of the storm, the sea rose like a grey wall. Marta gripped the iron rail and counted each step, because counting kept her from thinking about the waves. When she reached the top, the lamp had gone out, and the dark was thick enough to touch.
She struck a match. The wind howled through the cracked window, and the flame flickered, nearly dying. Marta cupped her hands around it, as though it were a fragile bird. The flame was small and uncertain, and the smallest draught could take it away.
Below, a ship's horn sounded, thin and desperate. Somewhere out there, sailors could not see the rocks, and the rocks waited patiently for them. Marta felt her heart thud, and she told herself that her father had never once let the light fail, not even in the worst winter of his life.
She lit the wick at last, her fingers shaking. The beam swept out across the water, pale and steady, and the horn fell silent. Only then did she sit down on the cold floor and let her shoulders shake. Outside, the rain kept falling, but the sea no longer roared.
Key ideas
- An inference is a conclusion from evidence, not a guess.
- A motive is the reason why a character does something.
- Always quote the evidence that supports your inference.
Method. Find the evidence that explains the action.
- Find the evidence. The text says counting kept her from thinking about the waves.counting kept her from thinking about the waves
- Infer the motive. She counts to stop herself thinking about the danger.to stop herself thinking about the waves
- Write the answer. to stop herself thinking about the waves
Check. The evidence supports the motive. ✓
Method. Read what she does and feels.
- Find the evidence. She struck a match, and she cupped her hands around the flame.struck a match
- Infer the feeling. She is worried, but she acts quickly and carefully.worried and determined
- Write the answer. worried and determined
Check. The actions show worry and determination. ✓
Method. Think about what has just happened.
- Find the evidence. The horn fell silent, after the beam swept out across the water.the horn fell silent
- Infer the feeling. The danger is over, so she can finally relax, which is relief.relief
- Write the answer. relief, after the danger has passed
Check. The danger is over, so relief is the feeling. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: an inference must have evidence. Do not say how someone feels without showing where the text supports it.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to say how a character feels in one sentence, then to find the words in the text that show it.
Exercise 10B Practice: inferring feelings, thoughts and motives
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.Marta felt her heart thud
- Work out the inference. Her heart thudding shows she is frightened.afraid
- Write the answer. afraid
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.she told herself that her father had never once let the light fail
- Work out the inference. She repeats a comforting thought to feel brave.to give herself courage
- Write the answer. to give herself courage
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.Somewhere out there, sailors could not see the rocks
- Work out the inference. She knows the sailors are in danger, so she worries for them.anxious for the sailors
- Write the answer. anxious for the sailors
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.The wind howled through the cracked window
- Work out the inference. She protects the flame, because the wind could put it out.to protect the flame from the wind
- Write the answer. to protect the flame from the wind
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.now the task belonged to her
- Work out the inference. She feels responsible for the light, because it is now her job.It is her duty, which she takes seriously
- Write the answer. It is her duty, which she takes seriously
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Find the evidence, then infer the feeling.
- Find the evidence. The beam swept out, pale and steady, and the horn fell silent.pale and steady
- Infer the feeling. A steady beam and a silent horn show the danger is over.relief
- Write the answer. Relief, because the beam is steady and the horn falls silent.
Check. The feeling is supported by evidence. ✓
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.Her father had done the job for thirty years
- Work out the inference. The job was done for a long time, so it is a serious responsibility.The job is long-standing and important, and Marta inherits it
- Write the answer. The job is long-standing and important, and Marta inherits it
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.her father had never once let the light fail
- Work out the inference. She admires him, and she wants to keep his standard.proud and loyal
- Write the answer. proud and loyal
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.sit down on the cold floor and let her shoulders shake
- Work out the inference. After the long, dangerous night, she is exhausted and relieved.exhausted and relieved
- Write the answer. exhausted and relieved
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Find an action, then explain what it shows.
- Find an action. She climbs the steps, and relights the lamp.climbs the steps
- Explain what it shows. Acting in a storm, when she is frightened, shows courage.courage
- Write the answer. She climbs the steps and relights the lamp, even though the sea is rough.
Check. The action shows courage. ✓
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.a ship's horn sounded, thin and desperate
- Work out the inference. A desperate horn is a sign of danger, and the sailors need help.danger
- Write the answer. danger
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.
Method. Think about what the sound tells the reader.
- Look at the words. Thin and desperate describe a weak, urgent sound.thin and desperate
- Infer the intention. The writer wants the reader to feel the danger.feel the danger
- Write the answer. To show that the sailors are in urgent danger, and need the light to be lit.
Check. The writer shows urgent danger. ✓
Method. Use the evidence in the text to work out what the character thinks or feels.
- Find the evidence. The text says the following, which is a clue.She struck a match
- Work out the inference. She acts at once, showing she is determined to keep the light going.determined to keep it burning
- Write the answer. determined to keep it burning
Check. The evidence supports the inference. ✓
Watch out. An inference is a sensible conclusion from the evidence, not a guess. Quote the evidence to show why.