Unit 1: Vocabulary and Word Relationships

Types of Analogies & Examples

Analogy questions ask you to compare two words and then extend that relationship to another set of words. In questions dealing with analogies, colons ( : ) will represent the phrase “is to,” and the double colons ( :: ) represent “as.”

Example : TALKATIVE : LOQUACIOUS :: THRIFTY : MISERLY

Talkative isto loquacious as thrifty is to miserly.

The symbols show a relationship of the words to each other.

On your Civil Service Exam, both the symbols and the words will be used.

Example : ENUNCIATE : PRONOUNCE :: ELABORATE :

a. IMPRESS

b. BOTHER

c. ASK

d. EXPLAIN

The correct answer is d.

In order to solve this question, you must first find the relationship between the first 2 items. Since enunciate means to pronounce more clearly and precisely, apply this same relationship to the second half of the analogy. Since to elaborate means to explain something better, clarify, or discuss in depth, letter d would make the best answer choice. Both pairs of words show a relationship of degree. One word is greater or lesser than the other. To enunciate means to pronounce more clearly and to elaborate means to explain something more clearly.

There are 6 “classic relationships” that appear in analogies they will help you to find the correct answer, once you recognize them.

Relationship 1: Character

In this type of analogy, one word characterizes the other.

QUARRELSOME : ARGUE :: VIVACIOUS : ENERGY

Quarrelsome people often argue, and vivacious people have a lot of energy.

Relationship 2: Lack

One word describes what someone or something lacks ( or does not have ).

COWARD : BRAVERY :: BRAGGART : MODESTY

A coward lacks bravery, and a braggart lacks modesty.

Relationship 3: Function

One word names an object, and the other word defines its function, or for what it is used.

SCISSORS : CUT :: PEN : WRITE

Scissors are used to cut and a pen is used to write.

Relationship 4: Degree

One word is a greater or lesser degree of the other word.

LOUD : DEAFENING :: APARTMENT : MANSION

Something that is extremely loud can be deafening, and an apartment provides housing in a lesser degree than a mansion.

Relationship 5: Example

One word is an example or type of the other word.

CHICKENPOX : DISEASE :: FOOTBALL : SPORT

Chickenpox is a type of disease and football is a type of sport.

Relationship 6: Group

One word is the group form of the other word.

FOREST : TREES :: BOUQUET : FLOWERS

A forest consists of many trees, and a bouquet consists of many flowers.

Every analogy question has a definite connection between the two stem words that are given first. In order to solve the analogy, you must figure out this connection. A connection is a short sentence that joins the two words, and every pair of words will have a strong connection.

If no answer can be found, then you will need to go back and create another relationship, and attempt to narrow the connection or make it more specific.

These relationships can also be classified as antonyms, synonyms, singular words, plural words, and the definition of the words.

Practice making “a connection” between each pair of the following analogies :

FOOTBALL GAME : QUARTER :: BASEBALL GAME : INNING

PROLOGUE : EPILOGUE :: BIRTH : DEATH

DAWN : DUSK :: SUNRISE : SUNSET

HYDROGEN : WATER :: SODIUM : SALT

FLOUR : CAKE :: SULFUR : GUNPOWDER

DECK : CARD :: NOVEL : PAGE

TOE : FOOT :: FINGER : HAND

FINGER : HAND :: ROOM : HOUSE

CHILDREN : CHILD :: THEY : HE/SHE

SKYSCRAPER : TALL :: FREIGHT TRAIN : LONG

DAY : SOLAR :: EVENING : LUNAR

ASTRONOMY : STARS :: GEOLOGY : ROCKS

SOLO : ENSEMBLE :: INDIVIDUAL : COMMITTEE

MELANCHOLY : CHEERFUL :: TRAGEDY : COMEDY

COFFEE : BEAN :: TEA : LEAF

TRIAL : COURTROOM :: BALLGAME : STADIUM

HEART : HUMAN :: ENGINE : AUTOMOBILE

WAITER : TIP :: ACTOR : APPLAUSE

PUNCH : DUCK :: QUESTION : EVADE

TREMOR : EARTHQUAKE :: WIND : HURRICANE

LIFEGUARD : RESCUE :: PROFESSOR : INSTRUCT

AGILE : NIMBLE :: FAST : SWIFT

SAW : CUT :: YARDSTICK : MEASURE

CIRCLE : ARC :: LINE : SEGMENT