In narrative features, which aspect primarily indicates a need for inference?

The aspect that primarily indicates a need for inference is verb tense shifts. When a narrative shifts between past, present, or future tenses, it often signals changes in time, perspective, or character development. These shifts can prompt the reader to infer underlying meanings, motivations, or implications that are not explicitly stated. For example, a change from past tense to present tense might suggest a flashback or a significant moment of realization for a character, thus requiring the reader to draw conclusions about the timing and emotional context of the events. In this way, tense shifts enrich the narrative, encouraging deeper engagement as readers interpret the implications of these changes.

Other options like embedded definitions, action verbs, and transition words do serve important narrative functions but are less directly tied to the need for making inferences about the narrative's underlying meanings or shifts in context. Embedded definitions provide clarity, action verbs convey direct actions, and transition words guide the flow of the narrative, but they do not inherently create the same level of interpretive challenge that tense shifts do.