Literal/ Nonliteral Language

Front

What is literal language?

Back

Literal language means exactly what it says. For example, 'The cat is on the mat' means the cat is really on the mat.

Front

What is non-literal language?

Back

Non-literal language means it does not mean exactly what it says. For example, 'It's raining cats and dogs' means it's raining heavily, not that animals are falling from the sky.

Front

Example of a literal statement: 'The mouse sat quietly in the corner.' What type of language is this?

Back

Literal

Front

Example of a non-literal statement: 'I wear my heart on my sleeve.' What type of language is this?

Back

Non-Literal

Front

What does it mean when someone says 'That noise was driving me up a wall'?

Back

It means the noise was very annoying, not that they were literally climbing a wall.

Front

Identify if the following is literal or non-literal: 'That day, the sun smiled upon us.'

Back

Non-Literal

Front

Identify if the following is literal or non-literal: 'We saw the clowns at the circus.'

Back

Literal

Front

What does the phrase 'break a leg' mean in a non-literal sense?

Back

It means 'good luck' and is often said to performers before a show.

Front

Why do we use non-literal language?

Back

We use non-literal language to express ideas in a more creative or colorful way.

Front

What is an idiom?

Back

An idiom is a phrase that has a meaning different from the literal meanings of its individual words, like 'kick the bucket' meaning 'to die'.