Analogies
Understanding Word Patterns
Analogies
are Word Relationships
A definition…
An analogy is a comparison between two
things, and the comparison is used to
determine the relationship between different
sets of things.
Bark is to dog as meow is to cat.
Word Analogies
Analogies develop logic.
Analyze two words and identify the
relationship between them.
Find another pair of words that has the
same relationship.
Many Different Types of
Analogies
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Synonym: cool is to chilly
Antonym: hot is to cold
Homonym: there is to there
Category/subcategory: vegetable is to celery
Part to whole: core is to apple
Function to thing: cook is to stove
Functions: microwave is to cook
Verb Forms: go is to goes
Synonyms
Words that have the
same meanings
Types of Analogies
What’s the relationship?
DRY : ARID :: lost : mislaid
Both words have similar meanings so
this relationship is a synonym
Antonyms
Words that have opposite
meanings
Types of Analogies
What’s the relationship?
KIND : CRUEL :: happy : sad
Both words have opposite meanings, so
their relationship is an antonym.
Homonyms
Same sound, different
meanings
Types of Analogies
What’s the relationship?
Hair is to hare as bear is to bare.
Present : present :: read : reed
Both words have the same sounds, so
their relationship is a homonym
Category-Subcategory
Category: a class or group of things,
people, etc., possessing some quality or
qualities in common
Subcategory: A subdivision that
has common differentiating
characteristics within a larger category.
Types of Analogies
Example: Color is to red as number is to five.
Categories: color and number
Sub-Categories : red and five
Whole-Part
WHOLE includes everything. Part is only
a part of the whole.
Hand is to finger as foot is to toe.
Whole: hand/foot
Part: finger/ toe
Types of Analogies
What’s the relationship?
POEM : STANZA :: play : acts
CHAPTER: BOOK :: fender : automobile
Whole/Part.
Function
An activity or purpose natural to or
intended for a person or thing
Types of Analogies
What’s the relationship?
KNIFE : CUT :: shovel : dig
The function of a knife is to
cut.
Function
Verb Tenses
a category that locates a situation in
time, to indicate when the situation
takes place
Examples: past, present, future
Types of Analogies
Win is to won as lose is to lost.
Swim : swam :: eat : ate.
Present and past tenses are Verb
Tenses
Types of Analogies
How do you choose the
correct word to complete
an analogy?
Guidelines to solve
analogies
decide upon the relationship between first 2 words
state the relationship - car is to tire
because___________
examine the third word – chair
select a fourth word that will make the third-fourth
word have the same relationship as the firstsecond word
be ready to explain your fourth word selection
Car is to tire as chair is to ______.
Model and Practice
On is to off as start is to __________.
stop, opposites
Nail is to finger as hair is to _________.
head, part to whole
Eye is to see as ear is to ____________.
hear, thing to function
Swift is to deer as slow is to _________.
turtle, characteristic to thing
Wool is to sheep as egg is to _________.
chicken, product to thing
Now what do you think?
Is this analogy correct?
More Analogies to Solve
Quia - Awesome Analogies – Practice your
knowledge of analogies through these interactive challenge
questions. http://www.quia.com/cb/7146.html
Quia – Hangman Analogies - Here is an interactive
hangman game format to practice analogies.
http://www.quia.com/hm/22953.html
Fact Monster – Analogy of the Day - Practice for
every day!
http://www.factmonster.com/analogies