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Y.1 Complete the analogies

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What are analogies?

Analogies are comparisons between two pairs of words that show how they are related. They help us understand the meaning of words by recognizing patterns and relationships.

Examples:
  • Hot is to cold as up is to down.
  • Bird is to fly as fish is to swim.
  • Teacher is to school as doctor is to hospital.
Note

Think of an analogy as a word puzzle. The key is to discover the relationship in the first pair and apply it to the second pair.

Types of analogies

Analogies can be based on different kinds of relationships between words. Recognizing these types makes it easier to solve them.

Common Types:
  • Synonyms: big is to large as small is to tiny.
  • Antonyms: day is to night as hot is to cold.
  • Part to Whole: petal is to flower as leaf is to tree.
  • Function: pen is to write as scissors are to cut.
  • Category: robin is to bird as shark is to fish.
Note

Always ask yourself: what kind of relationship do these words share? This will guide you to the correct analogy.

How to solve an analogy

To solve an analogy, figure out the relationship between the first two words. Then, apply the same relationship to complete the second pair.

Steps:
  • Read the first pair: puppy is to dog.
  • Ask: what is the relationship? A puppy is a young dog.
  • Apply it: kitten is to cat (a kitten is a young cat).
Note

Use the sentence β€œ___ is to ___ as ___ is to ___” to check if your answer makes sense.

Why are analogies important?

Analogies build critical thinking and strengthen vocabulary. They help students understand word meanings, connections, and patterns in language.

Examples:
  • Understanding analogies helps in reading comprehension.
  • They teach us to see connections between ideas.
  • Analogies are also common in standardized tests and academic work.
Note

Practicing analogies not only improves vocabulary but also prepares you for higher-level problem solving.

Practice with analogies in sentences

Once you understand the relationships, practice using analogies in full sentences to see how they work in context.

Examples:
  • β€œGlove is to hand as sock is to foot.”
  • β€œSun is to day as moon is to night.”
  • β€œPencil is to write as paintbrush is to paint.”
Note

If the analogy makes sense in a real-world situation, it is most likely correct.