Part 1 READING:
LITERATURE
1.2 Craft and Structure
Name __________________________________
Denotation and Connotation
Practice
Print this page and then write your answers in the table provided.
Read the pairs of sentences below, paying particular attention to the underlined
words that have the same denotation. Then follow the steps to determine which
word has a positive and which word has a negative connotation.
1. Look up the denotation, or dictionary definition, of the underlined words in each pair
of sentences.
2. Look for context clues in the sentence that point to the connotation, or emotional
associations, connected to each word.
3. Use your own knowledge of how each word is used.
4. Use all of this information to determine whether each word has a positive or negative
connotation.
Jordan was so impatient while waiting in line that he tapped his foot and sighed loudly. Eager
to see his friends, Ramon couldn’t wait for the first day of school to arrive.
impatient
eager
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Word
Denotation
Context Clues
Your Knowledge
Connotation
1
Part 1 READING:
LITERATURE
1.2 Craft and Structure
Name __________________________________
The mischievous puppy stole Tanya’s sock so that she would play with him. “It was very
naughty of you to be unkind to your brother, Alison,” said Mom.
Word
mischievous
naughty
Denotation
Context Clues
Your Knowledge
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Connotation
2