Helping English

Analogy (n)

Def. a comparison of two otherwise unlike things based on resemblance or a particular aspect.

In simple terms, an analogy is just a comparison. It is a way of demonstrating relationships between objects and/or ideas.

When you draw an analogy between two things, you compare them for the purpose of explanation. The movie character Forrest Gump made a silly analogy famous: "Life is like a box of chocolates."

Types of Analogy:

• Part to whole  

Example   London : UK : : living room : house

• Cause to effect

Example   drought : wildfire : : infection : disease

• Source to product

Example cocoa beans : chocolate : : wood : pencil

• Object to purpose

Example book : reading : : pen : writing

• Characteristic

Example red : cardinal : : amphibious : frog

• General to specific

Example city : Paris : : poem : sonnet

• User to tool

Example soldier : gun : : mechanic : tools

• Sequences

Example A : B : : 1 : 2

• Synonyms

Example happy : joyful : : angry : furious

• Antonym

Example up : down : : left : right

• Example to Category

Example Sunday : Day : : June : Month

Exercise

Complete the analogy and identify the type (relationship).

1. KNIFE : CUT : : PEN : ______
2. WEAK: STRONG : : HEAVY : ______
3. CHAPTER : NOVEL : : ACT : ______
4. WRITER : SHAKESPEARE : : BUILDING : ______
5. MILK : ICE CREAM : : EGG : ______
6. PLEASURE : SMILE : : PAIN : ______
7. HAPPY : GLAD : : BEGIN : ______
8. TOE : FOOT : : FINGER : ______
9. PILLOW : SOFT : : ROCK : ______
10. KITCHEN : HOUSE : : CLASSROOM : ______

Answer Key

1. WRTIE (object to purpose)
2. LIGHT (antonym)
3. PLAY (part to a whole)
4. BURJ KHALIFA (general to specific)
5. OMELET (source to product)
6. GRIMACE (cause to effect)
7. START (synonym)
8. HAND (part to whole)
9. HARD (characteristic)
10. SCHOOL (part to whole)

Exercise

Complete the analogies.

1. BED : SLEEPING : : POOL : ______

1. DRINKING
2. DANCING
3. SWIMMING

2. ROSE : FLOWER : : MOSQUITO : ______

1. INSECT
2. WINGS
3. BITE

3. DOG : PUPPY : : CAT :  ______

1. MOUSE
2. KITTEN
3. WHISKERS

4. CLOCK : TIME : : THERMOMETER : ______

1. SPEED
2. LENGTH
3. TEMPERATURE

5. NECKLACE : NECK : : RING : _______

1. FOOT
2. FINGER
3. HAIR

6. PRETTY : BEAUTIFUL : : DIFFICULT : ______

1. EASY
2. TOUGH
3. TIRED

Answer Key:  1 SWIMMING – 2 INSECT – 3 KITTEN – 4 TEMPERATURE – 5 FINGER – 6 TOUGH