Figurative Language
AdvancedFigurative Language.
- Simile: like / as — raindrops like thousands of tiny stones
- Metaphor: say it IS — Dark clouds were a heavy blanket.
- Personification: The wind screamed · the curtains danced · the sun rose shyly
文體小知識：Simile, metaphor, personification — make writing vivid.
§Text Passage
1The typhoon arrived in Hong Kong like an uninvited guest, just as the evening news ended. Dark clouds were a heavy blanket that covered the whole city before sunset. The wind screamed through the gaps of the old windows and rattled every door in the flat. Our building swayed so gently that Mum said it felt like being on a ship. By ten o'clock, every shop downstairs had pulled down its metal gate, and the streets lay empty.
2Raindrops attacked the glass like thousands of tiny stones. Inside the flat, the curtains danced wildly although every window was shut. My little brother was so frightened that he jumped a metre high when the thunder roared. Dad told us jokes and made hot lemon tea, which warmed the room better than any heater. Through the vivid orange glow of the street lamps, I could see branches flying past like birds.
3All night, the city rocked as if it were a small boat on a dark sea. The rain did not stop; it only changed its rhythm, from drumming to whispering. When morning finally came, the sun rose shyly above the wet streets. The world looked fresh and new, and the sky was washed clean. Outside, neighbours swept leaves together and shared stories about the night the wind sang.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
The typhoon arrived in Hong Kong like an uninvited guest, just as the evening news ended.
颱風就好像一位不速之客，在晚間新聞播完那時抵達香港。
Dark clouds were a heavy blanket that covered the whole city before sunset.
日落之前，烏雲就好像一張厚毯，覆蓋著整個城市。
The wind screamed through the gaps of the old windows and rattled every door in the flat.
狂風在舊窗的縫隙間尖叫，震得家裡每道門都咯咯響。
Our building swayed so gently that Mum said it felt like being on a ship.
我們那棟樓輕輕搖晃，媽媽說似是坐在船上。
By ten o'clock, every shop downstairs had pulled down its metal gate, and the streets lay empty.
到晚上十點，樓下所有店舖都拉下了閘，街上空空如也。
Raindrops attacked the glass like thousands of tiny stones.
雨點好像成千上萬粒小石頭般攻擊玻璃窗。
Inside the flat, the curtains danced wildly although every window was shut.
在家裡面，明明所有窗都關緊了，窗簾都還是瘋狂地跳舞。
My little brother was so frightened that he jumped a metre high when the thunder roared.
弟弟嚇得雷聲一響就跳起一米高。
Dad told us jokes and made hot lemon tea, which warmed the room better than any heater.
爸爸講笑話給我們聽，又沖了熱檸檬茶，比任何暖爐都暖。
Through the vivid orange glow of the street lamps, I could see branches flying past like birds.
透過街燈鮮艷的橙色光暈，我看到樹枝好像雀鳥般飛過。
All night, the city rocked as if it were a small boat on a dark sea.
整晚，城市就好像漆黑大海上的一隻小船般搖晃。
The rain did not stop; it only changed its rhythm, from drumming to whispering.
雨一直沒有停，只是換了節奏，由打鼓變成細語。
When morning finally came, the sun rose shyly above the wet streets.
到早上終於來到，太陽羞答答地在濕透的街道上升起。
The world looked fresh and new, and the sky was washed clean.
世界看起來清新又嶄新，天空都被洗得乾乾淨淨。
Outside, neighbours swept leaves together and shared stories about the night the wind sang.
外面，街坊一起掃樹葉，互相分享那晚風唱歌的故事。
1Summary 重點摘要
Figurative Language.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Comparison with like/as.
Direct comparison.
Human qualities to non-human.
Exaggeration.
Sensory description.
Lively.
Compare.
Describe.
3Step by step Steps
- SimileA simile uses like or as. Example: The typhoon arrived like an uninvited guest · Raindrops attacked the glass like thousands of tiny stones — spot like/as and you have spotted a simile.
- MetaphorA metaphor says A IS B, with no like. Example: Dark clouds were a heavy blanket that covered the whole city — the clouds are a blanket, a stronger claim than a simile.
- PersonificationPersonification gives things human actions. Example: The wind screamed through the gaps · the curtains danced wildly · the sun rose shyly — wind that screams makes the picture alive.
- EffectFigurative language creates pictures. Example: the city rocked as if it were a small boat on a dark sea — an as-if comparison that puts the reader inside the typhoon night.
- HyperboleHyperbole is never literal. Example: I could sleep for a year (a quiz item) — a year is exaggeration; the point is extreme tiredness. Recognise it or you will misread the text.
- Identification drillPractise with the quiz four: Her smile is like sunshine (simile) · Time is a thief (metaphor) · The wind whispered (personification) · I could sleep for a year (hyperbole).
- Write with itOne precise comparison beats three piled together. Example: My little brother jumped a metre high when the thunder roared — action plus exaggeration gives one sentence real drama.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Task: write one sentence each with a simile, a metaphor and personification to describe a storm.
- Step 1: A simile uses like / as — The raindrops attacked the glass like thousands of tiny stones.
- Step 2: A metaphor says it IS — Dark clouds were a heavy blanket that covered the whole city.
- Step 3: Personification gives things human actions — The wind screamed through the gaps of the old windows.
- Step 4: Add variety with as if / as though — The city rocked as if it were a small boat on a dark sea.
- Step 5: Check — comparisons must feel natural; never pile several into one sentence.
- Answer: The typhoon arrived like an uninvited guest (simile). Dark clouds were a heavy blanket over the city (metaphor). The wind screamed through the windows and the curtains danced wildly (personification). The city rocked as if it were a small boat on a dark sea, and when morning came, the sun rose shyly above the washed-clean streets. Good figurative language puts the reader inside the storm.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What device?
Q2What device?
Q3What device?
Q4What device?
Q5Feature of simile?
Q6How to use?
8Recap Recap
- Simile: like / as — raindrops like thousands of tiny stones
- Metaphor: say it IS — Dark clouds were a heavy blanket.
- Personification: The wind screamed · the curtains danced · the sun rose shyly
- as if / as though works too: as if it were a small boat
- Every image serves the picture — one precise comparison beats three piled together