Analogies
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Introduction & Key Concepts
Study MaterialAnalogies
Analogy is an important topic in the Logical Reasoning section of competitive examinations. Analogy questions test your ability to identify the relationship between two things and then find another pair that follows the same relationship.
In a typical analogy question, two words, numbers, letters, or figures are related in a particular way. You must identify that relationship and apply the same relationship to another pair.
Basic Idea of Analogy
Relationship between A and B = Relationship between C and ?
The symbol :: is read as "is related to" or "in the same way as". The task is to identify the relationship between the first pair and apply exactly the same relationship to the second pair.
What Is an Analogy?
An analogy means a similarity or comparability between two things based on a specific relationship. The relationship may be based on meaning, function, category, sequence, cause and effect, part and whole, or another logical connection.
For example:
Example: Scissors : Cut :: Pen : Write
Scissors are used to cut, and a pen is used to write. Therefore, the relationship is based on function.
The words themselves are different, but the relationship between the two words is similar. This relationship is the most important part of an analogy question.
Basic Structure of an Analogy Question
Most word analogy questions follow a simple structure:
First Word → Second Word
↓
Identify the Relationship
↓
Apply the Same Relationship
↓
Third Word → Correct Answer
For example:
Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ?
A doctor commonly works in a hospital. A teacher commonly works in a school. Therefore, the answer is School.
The key is not to look for a random connection. The relationship should be clear, direct, and comparable.
Common Types of Relationships in Analogies
Several different relationships can occur between the two words in an analogy. Recognising the type of relationship makes the question much easier.
1. Synonym Relationship
The two words have similar or nearly similar meanings.
Example: Buy : Purchase :: Help : Assist
Buy and Purchase have similar meanings. Similarly, Help and Assist have similar meanings.
2. Antonym Relationship
The two words have opposite meanings.
Example: Hot : Cold :: Light : Dark
Hot is the opposite of cold, just as light is the opposite of dark.
3. Descriptive Relationship
One word describes a characteristic or quality associated with the other.
Example: Blue : Ocean :: Green : Grass
Blue is a commonly associated description of the ocean, while green is a commonly associated description of grass.
4. Part-to-Whole Relationship
One word represents a part of the object or system represented by the other.
Example: Wheel : Car :: Page : Book
A wheel is a part of a car, and a page is a part of a book.
5. Whole-to-Part Relationship
The direction can also be reversed, where the first word represents the whole and the second represents one of its parts.
Example: Tree : Branch :: Book : Page
A branch is part of a tree, and a page is part of a book.
6. Function Relationship
One word represents an object and the other represents its primary function.
Example: Scissors : Cut :: Pen : Write
Scissors are used for cutting, while a pen is used for writing.
7. Worker and Workplace Relationship
A person or profession is associated with the place where the work is performed.
Example: Teacher : School :: Doctor : Hospital
A teacher commonly works in a school, while a doctor commonly works in a hospital.
8. Worker and Tool Relationship
A profession or activity is associated with the tool commonly used for it.
Example: Carpenter : Saw :: Tailor : Needle
A carpenter commonly uses a saw, while a tailor commonly uses a needle.
9. Cause and Effect Relationship
One word represents a cause and the other represents its likely effect.
Example: Fire : Smoke :: Rain : Flood
Fire can produce smoke, while heavy rain can contribute to flooding.
10. Effect and Cause Relationship
The direction may also be reversed.
Example: Fever : Infection :: Flood : Heavy Rain
Infection can cause fever, while heavy rain can contribute to flooding.
11. Item-to-Category Relationship
One word represents a specific item, while the other represents the broader category to which it belongs.
Example: Apple : Fruit :: Rose : Flower
An apple is a type of fruit, and a rose is a type of flower.
12. Category-to-Item Relationship
The direction can be reversed, with the first word representing a category and the second representing an item belonging to that category.
Example: Fruit : Apple :: Vehicle : Car
An apple belongs to the category fruit, while a car belongs to the category vehicle.
13. Steps in a Process
The two words may represent stages or actions that occur in a particular sequence.
Example: Cooking : Serving :: Studying : Examination
Cooking generally precedes serving, while studying generally precedes an examination.
14. Symbol and What It Represents
One word may represent a symbol, while the other represents the idea associated with it.
Example: White Flag : Surrender :: Red Light : Stop
The relationship is based on what the symbol communicates.
15. Implied or Associated Relationship
Sometimes the relationship is not explicitly stated but is strongly associated with the two words.
Example: Clouds : Rain :: Dark Clouds : Storm
The relationship depends on a commonly understood association between the two concepts.
Understand the Direction of the Relationship
One of the most common mistakes in analogy questions is identifying the correct words but reversing the relationship.
Important: Relationship direction matters.
Teacher : School is different from School : Teacher.
Similarly, Apple : Fruit is different from Fruit : Apple.
Therefore, after identifying the relationship, always ask:
- What is the relationship from the first word to the second word?
- Does the same direction apply to the second pair?
Turn the Analogy into a Sentence
A very useful technique is to convert the analogy into a simple sentence. This makes the relationship easier to recognise.
Example:
Bird : Nest :: Lion : ?
Instead of looking at the words separately, form the sentence:
A bird lives in a nest.
A lion lives in a den.
Therefore, the answer is Den.
This technique is particularly useful when the relationship is based on function, place, association, cause, possession, or category.
Exact Relationship Is More Important Than a General Association
An analogy question may contain several possible associations. Your task is not to find just any relationship. You must find the most direct relationship intended by the question setter.
Consider:
Bigotry : Hatred
A test-taker may find several associations with these words. However, the most useful relationship is that both terms represent a form of strong intolerance or hostility. The answer should therefore contain a pair with the same type of relationship rather than merely a pair that happens to be associated in some other way.
LearnFrenzy Tip
Do not choose an answer simply because the two words are related somehow. Ask whether the same precise relationship exists in both pairs.
Compare the Relationship, Not Just the Words
The similarity between the words themselves is not enough. What matters is the relationship connecting them.
For example:
Scissors : Cut
The important relationship is:
Therefore, a good matching pair would be:
Pen : Write
It would be weaker to select a pair merely because the words are commonly associated.
Use Elimination When the Relationship Is Not Immediately Clear
If the exact answer is not obvious, eliminate options that clearly have a different relationship.
Example:
Apple : Fruit :: Rose : ?
- Tree
- Flower
- Garden
- Red
Apple is an item belonging to the category fruit. Therefore, Rose should correspond to its category, Flower.
The other choices may be associated with a rose, but they do not represent the same item-to-category relationship.
Consider Alternative Meanings of a Word
Some words have more than one meaning. In such cases, do not immediately reject a word because its most familiar meaning does not fit.
Instead, consider whether another valid meaning creates the required relationship.
Example Principle
If a word appears unfamiliar, recall where you may have encountered it before and consider its possible contextual meaning. Then compare that meaning with the relationship in the question.
Do Not Stop at the First Apparently Correct Option
One important exam strategy is to read all answer choices before finalising your answer.
An option may look correct at first glance, but another option may follow the relationship more precisely.
- Identify the relationship in the question.
- Check every option against that relationship.
- Eliminate pairs with a different relationship.
- Compare the remaining options.
- Select the pair with the closest and most exact relationship.
Important Concepts to Remember
| Concept | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Similarity | Are the meanings similar? |
| Opposition | Are the meanings opposite? |
| Function | What does the object do? |
| Part and Whole | Is one a component of the other? |
| Category | Does one belong to the other? |
| Cause and Effect | Does one produce or lead to the other? |
| Process | Do the two words represent sequential stages? |
| Worker and Workplace | Where does the person normally work? |
| Worker and Tool | What tool is commonly associated with the work? |
| Symbol and Meaning | What does the symbol represent? |
Common Mistakes in Analogy Questions
- Finding any relationship: Several associations may exist, but only one may match the intended relationship precisely.
- Ignoring direction: A part-to-whole relationship is different from a whole-to-part relationship.
- Choosing the first familiar option: Always check all options.
- Matching words instead of relationships: The words need not look similar. Their logical relationship must be similar.
- Ignoring alternative meanings: A word may have more than one valid meaning.
- Using personal assumptions: Choose the relationship supported by the question, not a subjective association.
- Overcomplicating a simple relationship: Prefer the most direct relationship supported by the pair.
- Ignoring context: Some relationships become clear only when the words are interpreted in context.
- Not using elimination: Clearly unrelated options can often be removed quickly.
Quick Exam Strategy
- Read the first pair carefully.
- Ask: "How is the first word related to the second?"
- Convert the relationship into a simple sentence.
- Identify the exact relationship type.
- Check the direction of the relationship.
- Apply the same relationship to the second pair.
- Read all answer choices.
- Eliminate options with a different relationship.
- Choose the most precise match.
Quick Revision
Analogy Formula
First Pair → Identify Relationship → Check Direction → Apply Same Relationship → Compare Options → Eliminate → Select Exact Match
LearnFrenzy Golden Rule: In an analogy question, do not focus only on the words. Focus on the exact relationship between the first pair, preserve its direction, and find the option that follows the same relationship most precisely.