Figurative Language Exercises

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What is the Importance of Figurative Language?

As you know, using accurate details in your writing is important. Such details help to convey exact images to the reader. When you describe how things actually look, sound, or feel, you are using literal language. With literal language, you say precisely what you mean.

Sometimes, however, you may wish to describe images more imaginatively. You then use figurative language. Figurative language is not meant to be interpreted in a literal sense.

Literal: Melanie had new ideas.

Figurative: Melanie broke ground with her new ideas.

Of course, Melanie did not actually break the ground. With figurative language, you say things in new ways.

Importance of Figurative Language
Importance of Figurative Language

Common Types of Figurative Language

You can use figurative language to make comparisons. Similes, metaphors, and personification are types of figurative language that compare.

A simile compares by using words like or as.

Ex. The bobcat was like a raging storm.

Ex: Her smile was as bright as the sun.

A metaphor compares by saying that something is something else.

Ex: The snow is a blanket on the rooftops.

In personification, something nonhuman is given human qualities.

Ex: The dancing snowflakes leaped to Earth.

Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which a sentence’s meaning is exaggerated.

Ex.  “I’ve told you a million times”. 

Onomatopoeia are words that imitate sounds, sensations or textures.

Ex.  Boom (an explosion or loud bang), Buzz (like a bee), Sizzle (sound of frying)

An idiom is a phrase which has a meaning that cannot be worked out from the meanings of the words in it.

Ex. A storm in a cup. (Meaning: A big fuss about a small problem)

Alliteration is a form of figurative speech in which letters or sounds are repeated within a single sentence.

Ex. She paints seashells for Shorely Sea Chalet.

Alliteration-Tongue Twisters Practice

Many tongue twisters are difficult to say because they contain so many words with the same sound. See how quickly you can say these tongue twisters without laughing.

If Peter Piper picked a pack of pickled peppers, how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?

Blowing bubbles, brothers Bobby Bobbit, but Bobby blabbers with bubbles.

Seven stately swans swam steadily southward.

A. Tell whether each sentence is an example of simile, metaphor, or personification.

  1. The rain slapped the concrete sidewalks. _______________________________________________________________________________
  1. The horse leaped like a graceful ballerina. _______________________________________________________________________________
  1. The moon was a round bouncing ball. _______________________________________________________________________________

Article Writing Samples

Article Writing Topics for Students

B. Write each sentence, underlining the example of figurative language in the sentence. Write whether it is an example of simile, metaphor, or personification.

  1. The angry lion ran like a bolt of lightning. ______________________________________________________________________________
  1. A lazy river crawled through the lush valley. ______________________________________________________________________________
  1. The mountain groaned in pain during the earthquake. ______________________________________________________________________________
  1. Like an agile mountain goat, the climber scaled the slope. ______________________________________________________________________________
  1. He is a tiger in his devotion to endangered species. ______________________________________________________________________________

C. Write a sentence to describe each subject. Use figurative language in your descriptions.

  1. a trainer holding out a fish for a porpoise ______________________________________________________________________________
  1. a forest ranger aiding an injured deer ______________________________________________________________________________
  1. a fisher waiting for a bite on his line ______________________________________________________________________________
  1. a calm lake after vacationers have left ______________________________________________________________________________
  1. a forest after a heavy snowfall ______________________________________________________________________________

D. The following sentences are written in literal language. Rewrite each sentence, using figurative language.

  1. The plant grew very tall. _______________________________________________________________________________
  1. A friend came over to my house. _______________________________________________________________________________
  1. There was lightning in the sky. _______________________________________________________________________________
  1. The wind blew the leaves on the trees. _______________________________________________________________________________
  1. She walked to the park. _______________________________________________________________________________

E. Identify the correct type of figurative language.

SimileMetaphor
IdiomsAlliteration
HyperboleOnomatopoeia
Personification
  1. Our neighbour is older than dirt. ______________
  1. The flag flapped in the wind. ______________
  1. Rain rolled rapidly across the roof. ______________
  1. I’m so hungry, I could eat a buffalo. ______________
  1. My phone is a lifeline. ______________
  1. Saving for a rainy day. ______________
  1. Tim took ten tiny turtles to town. ______________
  1. If you eat too much, you will be as fat as a pig. ______________
  1. The moon smiled at the stars in the sky. ______________
  1. A unicorn! He’s so fluffy I’m gonna die! ______________
  1. The principal is a dragon. No student wants to face him. ______________
  1. The computer argued with me and refused to work. ______________
  1. When there’s smoke, there’s fire. ______________
  1. The loud knock on the door startled everyone in the room ______________
  1. The chocolate cake was the best cake ever. ______________
  1. She talks like a robot. ______________
  1. The car stopped with a groaning complaint. ______________
  1. The warrior has a heart of stone. ______________
  1. Haste makes waste. ______________
  1. Cold coffee can’t compete with cocoa. ______________
  1. The tick-tock of the grandmother clock was the only sound in the silent room. ______________

Related Topics

Simile, Metaphor, and Personification Exercises
Onomatopoeia Examples & EXERCISES
Put the verb into the correct form, active or passive
Present Perfect Progressive Tense Exercise
Six Effective Tips to Write a Summary
SIMPLE PRESENT EXERCISES
What are the Differences Between Formal & Informal Language?
Reported Speech Examples and Exercise

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