Free English Tutorial - Figures of Speech
In this article, you learn about different forms of expressions used in sentences known as figures of speech. These are words or phrases are meant to add effectiveness to sentences. Usually two different objects are compered to another to highlight the difference or to express your ideas or feelings, towards someone or something some strong words are used etc.
You frequently hear phrases such as "As slow as a snail," "Busy as a bee, She has a heart of stone "My father is a pillar of strength," etc. In the first sentence, a man is compared to a snail to describe his sluggishness. So, a noun or a pronoun is compared to another noun to highlight its characteristics. Although man differs from a snail in many ways, his sluggish behaviour can demoralise him. Similarly, the phrase "Busy as a Bee" addresses someone who is always active, like a bee. Here, a man is compared to a frivolous insect. Different figures of speech
Simile
It is a phrase that describes similarities between two objects. The reader can even clearly understand the characteristics of a person or an object. The phrases often consist of words such as, 'like', 'as', 'than', etc. For example, "He is as strong as an ox" is an example of a simile. A boy or a man is compared to a sturdy ox. The boy is too strong and robust. Another example of a simile is "Her rude words pricked me like thorns." The girl or woman spoke so rudely that I felt as though a thorn had pricked me. Metaphor
In a sentence, two nouns differ, but their similarities are highlighted. These phrases consist of the word 'is'. For example, "Camel is the ship of the desert." In this sentence, a camel is compared to a ship because it can carry heavy loads across the desert, just as a ship can bear while sailing in the sea. A camel is a mammal, but a ship is an object. Another example of a metaphor is 'laughter is the best medicine'. Laughter is an action compared to medicine, as laughter can cure diseases such as hypertension, etc.Personification
It is a form of speech that assigns human characteristics to a non-living substance. Non-living objects are treated as living objects. The ideas, concepts, or non-living objects are presented as living beings. One fine example of personification is "clouds are gathering in the sky." This phrase means that 'we see clouds before the rainfall, which seems as if clouds are forming everywhere'. You have probably read the poem 'The Daffodil'. In this poem, you have read the line 'fluttering and dancing in the breeze'. Although flowers cannot flutter or dance, a gentle breeze can cause the daffodils to shake graciously. Hyperbole
In some sentences, you may find some exaggerated words. A writer uses such strong words to express his or her intense feelings, opinions, etc. One such example of hyperbole is the famous phrase, "Pen is mightier than a sword." A small pen is compared to a powerful, large sword. This phrase means that, just like a sword that is used to fight against evil, we can write something powerful to defeat an evil person or a wrongdoer. . Another fine example of hyperbole is 'You are sleeping like a rock." Just as a rock is so rigid or fixed, you are sleeping in such a rigid position that you do not move at all. Apostrophe
We are speaking to someone or something who cannot respond. When we speak to a deceased person, it simply means 'apostrophe'. One example of an apostrophe is 'Oh Grandpa! I hope you are living in a place far better than the earth." Another such example is "Oh Moon! You shine so bright." A moon cannot understand human language, yet we use such phrases to show how bright a moon appears at night.
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