Year 4 — Vocabulary

Word building and figurative language

Use prefixes, suffixes and root words to build new words, build word families, and start recognising figurative language — similes and metaphors.

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💡Understand

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE describes something by comparing it to something else, rather than stating a plain fact. A SIMILE compares using 'like' or 'as' (as brave as a lion). A METAPHOR says one thing IS another (he was a lion in battle).

“The classroom was as loud as a zoo. → The classroom was a zoo.”

The first sentence is a simile, using 'as...as' to compare. The second is a metaphor, saying the classroom directly IS a zoo — a bolder, more direct comparison, without the comparing word.

🔍Spot it

Is this a simile, a metaphor, or a word built from prefixes/suffixes?

Question 1

Her smile was as bright as the sun.

💡 'As bright as the sun' uses the comparing word 'as' — a simile.

Question 2

Time is a thief that steals our best moments.

💡 This says time directly IS a thief, with no comparing word — a metaphor.

Question 3

unbelievable

💡 This combines the prefix 'un-', the root 'believe', and the suffix '-able'.

🧠Think about it

Why might a metaphor ('the exam was a mountain') feel more powerful than a simile saying the same thing ('the exam was like a mountain')?

✍️Try it

Identify the figurative language technique.

The wind howled like a wounded animal through the empty streets.

Question 1

What technique is used here?

💡 Look for the comparing word 'like'.

📝Practise

Identify the technique or build the word.

Question 1

"His temper was a volcano ready to erupt."

Question 2

"She ran as fast as a cheetah."

Question 3

What word do you get combining 'dis-' + 'agree' + '-ment'?

Question 4

In one word, what do we call language that describes something by comparing it to something else?

💡 It's the main topic of this lesson.

Question 5

"The city never sleeps."

Question 6

What word do you get combining 're-' + 'appear' + '-ance'?

🎯Apply

Read the passage, then answer the questions below.

The storm was a raging beast, tearing at the trees like a wild animal clawing for freedom. By morning, the unrecognisable garden lay in ruins.

Question 1

"The storm was a raging beast" is an example of which technique?

💡 There's no comparing word like 'like' or 'as' here.

Question 2

"like a wild animal clawing for freedom" is an example of which technique?

💡 Look for the comparing word 'like'.

Question 3

What prefix and root make up the word 'unrecognisable'?

💡 'Un-' means 'not', added to the root word.

🏆Challenge

Can you write one simile and one metaphor describing a thunderstorm?

🔄Review

A quick mastery check — 3 questions.

Question 1

"Her voice was music to his ears."

Question 2

"He was as quiet as a mouse."

Question 3

What word do you get combining 'un-' + 'happy' + '-ness'?

Want to practise building words from prefixes, suffixes and roots? Try the word-family builder →