Verbal Analogy
Analogy is a relationship between two pairs of words where the relationship between the first pair is similar to the relationship between the second pair. It tests your ability to recognize logical connections or patterns between words.
- Simply put, if A is to B, then C is to D.
- Example: Bird is to Fly as Fish is to Swim.
Analogy questions check your understanding of vocabulary, logic, and how concepts relate to each other.
2. Key Patterns and Types of Analogies
There are several common types of analogies frequently tested in exams:
| Type | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Synonym | Words having similar meaning | Happy : Joyful :: Sad : Unhappy |
| Antonym | Words having opposite meaning | Hot : Cold :: Big : Small |
| Part to Whole | Part related to the whole | Finger : Hand :: Petal : Flower |
| Cause and Effect | Cause leading to effect | Fire : Burn :: Rain : Flood |
| Function | Object and its function | Pen : Write :: Knife : Cut |
| Degree | Different intensities of the same quality | Warm : Hot :: Cold : Freezing |
| Type or Category | An example belonging to a category | Rose : Flower :: Mango : Fruit |
| Characteristic | Characteristic or quality of an object | Snake : Venomous :: Rose : Fragrant |
| Tool and User | Tool used by a person or animal | Brush : Painter :: Needle : Tailor |
| Sequence | Sequence or order relationship | Monday : Tuesday :: January : February |
3. Conceptual Tips (Common Mistakes)
- Don’t focus on the words themselves only. Look for the relationship, not just word similarity.
- Avoid picking answers based only on the first or last letters of the words.
- Be careful of false friends — words that look similar but don’t share a relationship.
- Avoid confusing synonyms with antonyms or vice versa.
- Always verify if the relationship is symmetrical — sometimes the order matters.
- Watch out for multiple relationships — e.g., a word might have more than one meaning or relationship. Pick the one that fits the analogy.
- Use elimination to discard options that don’t fit any logical relationship.
- Practice by breaking down the analogy into simple “if A then B” and then check if the same applies to C and D.
4. Visual Explanation (Diagrammatic)
Imagine the analogy as a mapping between two pairs:
A ---------> B
| |
| |
v v
C ---------> D
The arrow shows the relationship between the pairs. The relationship from A to B should be the same as from C to D.
Example:
Bird ---------> Fly
| |
v v
Fish -----------> Swim
Both pairs show "creature to its primary mode of movement."
5. 3 Examples with Detailed Explanation
Example 1
Question:
Book : Read :: Knife : ?
Options:
a) Cut
b) Write
c) Eat
d) Throw
Answer: a) Cut
Explanation:
The relationship is object and its function. A book is used to read, and a knife is used to cut.
Example 2
Question:
Cold : Hot :: Loss : ?
Options:
a) Win
b) Gain
c) Fail
d) Earn
Answer: b) Gain
Explanation:
This is an antonym relationship. Cold is the opposite of Hot; similarly, Loss is opposite of Gain.
Example 3
Question:
Finger : Hand :: Petal : ?
Options:
a) Stem
b) Leaf
c) Flower
d) Root
Answer: c) Flower
Explanation:
This is a part to whole relationship. Finger is part of a hand; similarly, petal is part of a flower.