Similes and Metaphors — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
Life is like a journey full of bumps.
Corrected: Life is a journey full of bumps.
Metaphors say one thing IS another directly, so removing 'like' turns the simile into a metaphor.
2. Fix the sentence:
Her smile as sunshine on a rainy day.
Corrected: Her smile is sunshine on a rainy day.
A metaphor needs a linking verb such as 'is' or 'was' to make the direct comparison work.
3. Fix the sentence:
The classroom like a zoo before recess.
Corrected: The classroom was a zoo before recess.
A metaphor uses a verb like 'was' to state directly that the classroom equals a zoo.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. My grandfather is a rock when our family needs help.
Calling someone a 'rock' is a metaphor meaning they are dependable and strong.
2. The stars are tiny diamonds scattered across the night sky.
The metaphor 'diamonds' compares stars directly to sparkling jewels without using 'like'.
3. Time is a river that no one can stop.
Saying time IS a river is a metaphor that shows time flows constantly forward.
4. Her words were daggers that hurt my feelings.
The metaphor 'daggers' shows her words felt sharp and painful, not literally weapons.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Explain the metaphor: 'My brother is a night owl.' What does it mean?
Sample answer: It means my brother stays up very late at night, like an owl that is awake at night.
A metaphor compares two things directly; here the brother shares the owl's habit of being awake at night.
2. Write a metaphor that describes a kind person. Do not use 'like' or 'as'.
Sample answer: My neighbor is a warm blanket on a cold day.
A metaphor states the person directly equals something else, showing a shared quality such as warmth.