Analogies

What are they?

An Analogy shows the relationship between a pair of words.

• An analogy is set up like this:

A:B::C:D• The relationship between A and B is the same

as the relationship between C and D.• For Example:

calf : cow :: chick: hen(a calf is a baby cow and a chick is a baby hen)

• A trick to solving an Analogy is to create a sentence that states the relationship between the first pair of words.

• Example:

Wealthy : poor:: selfish : _______________________

• A. rich• B. greedy• C. generous• D. needy

• If a person is wealthy, he is not poor.

• Use the same sentence for the second part of the analogy.

• If a person is selfish, he is not ___________.• C is the answer. If a person is selfish, he is not generous.

• Sometimes only one word in an analogy is missing and you must choose the missing word.

• shatter : break:: mend : ___________.• A. repair• B. drop• C. place• D. broken

• Remember to think of a sentence to help you find the relationship between the words.

• If you shatter something you break it.• If you mend something you _________ it.

• On some tests a pair of words in an analogy is missing.• Steal : take ::• A. cheat: robber• B. beg: donate• C. give: supply• D. reject: accept

You would still write or think of a sentence for the pair of words that are given to find the pair of words that are missing.

• If you steal something you take it. • If you give something you supply it.• The answer would be C.

•

Be sure to create a sentence to use the words in the order they are given.

• Don’t pick the one that seems right. Read all of your choices.• The words that make up the two pairs of words in an analogy

should be matching parts of speech.

• Example: King: wealthy:: peasant:• A. queen• B. poverty• C. rich• D. poor• Wealthy is an adjective so your answer should also be an

adjective.• Poor is an adjective so that will be you’re answer.

• Think of a sentence to describe the relationship between the pairs of words in these analogies.

wallet : money :: bookbag: books• A wallet is used to carry money.• A bookbag is used to carry books.

• Example: coat : clothing :: pizza: food• A coat is a type of clothing.• Pizza is a type of food.

• Example: pen : write :: scissors: cut• I use a pen to write.• I use scissors to cut.

Try it when a pair of words are missing?

• Lead is to follow :: • A. show: guide• B. walk: go• C. school: teach• D. give: take• If I lead I do not follow.• If I give I do not take.

• Don’t get stuck on looking for just one kind of relationship.

• Analogies can be: • Synonyms- words with the same meaning• Example: crabby : cranky :: boring : dull• Antonyms- opposites• Example: afraid: brave:: kind : cruel• Cause and Effect: A cause make something happen• Example: raindrops: flood :: snowflakes :blizzard• Whole to part identify a whole and than a part of it• Example: duck: feathers:: rabbit: fur

• Purpose – an item and its purpose. • Example: broom: sweep:: saddle: ride

• Action to Object – an item used to do something.• Example: write: pencil :: dry: towel

• Place to Place: the relationship between two places.• Example: Phoenix : Arizona :: Des Moines: Iowa

• Association: words that are closely related.• Example: baseball: homerun :: football: • A. pin• B. touchdown• C. ball• D. sport• Sequence: things that happen in order• Example: toddle : walk :: babble : • A. scoot• B. crawl• C. stumble• D. talk

• Characteristics- an item and a characteristic of it.• Example: comedy: funny :: tragedy: • A. play• B. stage• C. laughter• D. sad

• Degree – a comparison of two things • Example: Look: stare:: frown: • A. scowl• B. lips• C. wink• D. speak

• Measurement- time, weight, lbs, etc.• Example: year: month:: month: day

• Worker to tool – relates workers to their tools• Example: farmer: plow:: blacksmith: anvil

• Location to Object - a location and something found in that location

• Example: kitchen: stove :: bedroom: bed

• Categories: items and the category they belong in• Example: Human: mammal: : crow: bird

Let’s try some!