6.2 Verbal Analogies
Key Takeaways
Verbal analogies test whether you can name the relationship in A:B and apply that same relationship to C:?.
Common relationship types include synonym, antonym, part–whole, cause–effect, degree, function, category, and sequence.
The most common error is matching by theme or word association instead of preserving the exact link.
A one-line bridge sentence (“A is to B as …”) is the fastest way to keep the relationship stable under time pressure.
If no clean bridge fits within roughly half a minute, flag the analogy and protect throughput on the 51-item JOA.
What a verbal analogy is testing
A classic verbal analogy has the form A : B :: C : ? — read “A is to B as C is to ?.” The JOA is sampling relational reasoning with language, not poetry and not memorised lists of famous analogy pairs. You must:
- Discover the relationship that links A to B
- Apply that same relationship from C to the missing term
- Prefer the option that preserves the link most cleanly among distractors
If you only ask “which words feel related to C?” you will often pick a thematic neighbour and miss the structural match.
The bridge-sentence method
Always convert the first pair into a short sentence you could defend out loud.
| Pair | Weak reaction | Strong bridge |
|---|---|---|
| doctor : hospital | “medical stuff” | A doctor works in a hospital |
| blade : cut | “sharp things” | A blade is used to cut |
| puppy : dog | “animals” | A puppy is a young dog |
| hot : scalding | “both mean heat” | Scalding is a more intense form of hot |
Then force the second pair through the same template:
- doctor : hospital :: teacher : school (works in)
- blade : cut :: pen : write (used to)
- puppy : dog :: kitten : cat (young form of)
- hot : scalding :: cold : freezing (more intense form)
If the option only fits a different template, reject it—even if it is somehow associated with C.
Relationship type catalogue (with original examples)
Memorising names is optional; recognising structures is mandatory.
1. Synonym / definition
begin : start :: finish : end
Bridge: A means roughly the same as B.
2. Antonym / opposition
empty : full :: dry : wet
Bridge: A is the opposite of B.
3. Degree / intensity
warm : hot :: cool : cold
Bridge: B is a stronger version of A on the same scale.
Trap: choosing a word on a different scale (warm : hot :: cool : heavy).
4. Part–whole or whole–part
page : book :: room : house
Bridge: A is a part of B.
Trap: choosing a related object that is not a compositional part (page : book :: author : publisher).
5. Category / member
sparrow : bird :: salmon : fish
Bridge: A is a type of B.
6. Function / tool–action / worker–tool
scissors : cut :: broom : sweep
Bridge: A is used to perform B.
carpenter : saw :: tailor : needle
Bridge: A typically uses B in their work.
7. Cause–effect or condition–result
rain : flood :: spark : fire (simplified illustration)
Bridge: A can lead to B.
Be careful: not every sequence is causation. Prefer bridges you can state without exaggeration.
8. Sequence / process order
mix : bake :: knead : rise (context-dependent; only if options support a clear process)
Bridge: A happens before B in a process—only use when the order is stable and obvious.
9. Object–characteristic
ice : cold :: lemon : sour
Bridge: A is characteristically B.
10. Worker–workplace or agent–location
pilot : cockpit :: chef : kitchen
Bridge: A typically works in B.
Worked solutions under time pressure
Worked example 1
glove : hand :: sock : ?
Options (illustrative): foot, shoe, cotton, warm.
Bridge: A glove is worn on a hand.
Apply: A sock is worn on a foot.
Reject: shoe is also footwear-related but breaks the “worn on body part” template; cotton is material; warm is a property.
Worked example 2
chapter : book :: stanza : ?
Options: poem, author, rhyme, library.
Bridge: A chapter is a division of a book.
Apply: A stanza is a division of a poem.
Reject: author and library are associated with writing/books; rhyme is a feature, not the whole that contains stanzas.
Worked example 3 — degree
annoy : infuriate :: like : ?
Options: adore, know, meet, borrow.
Bridge: Infuriate is a much stronger form of annoy.
Apply: Adore is a much stronger form of like.
Reject: know/meet/borrow are unrelated verbs.
Worked example 4 — false theme match
nurse : hospital :: teacher : ?
Options: school, textbook, student, lesson.
Bridge: A nurse works in a hospital (worker–workplace).
Apply: A teacher works in a school.
Why textbook/student/lesson tempt: all are education-themed. They fail the workplace template. If the bridge had been “works with,” student might compete—but the first pair points to location of work, not recipient of care/teaching alone.
Naming the bridge before looking at C’s options protects you from theme magnets.
Direction matters
Analogies are ordered. A:B is not automatically the same as B:A.
- wheel : car (part → whole) is not the same direction as car : wheel (whole → part)
- If C is a whole, the answer may need to be a part, not another whole
Quick check: after choosing an option, reverse-read your completed analogy. If the second pair only works when you flip roles that were not flipped in the first pair, you likely reversed direction.
Multi-step elimination when two bridges seem possible
Sometimes A:B admits more than one description.
Example: pen : write
Possible bridges: tool–function; object–action; writer’s instrument.
When that happens:
- Prefer the most specific bridge that still fits ordinary usage
- Test each contender option against that bridge
- If two options still fit, refine the bridge using a detail from A:B (for example, “primary function” vs “location”)
Do not freeze. On the JOA, a refined 20-second elimination beats a 70-second philosophical debate about language.
Timing model for analogies inside the 20-minute JOA
Analogies should usually be medium-fast items:
0–5s Read A:B and draft a bridge sentence
5–15s Apply bridge to C; scan options
15–25s Eliminate theme traps; select or flag
If no bridge emerges by ~15 seconds, you are probably staring. Flag and return later if the interface allows. Remember the official goal: complete as many questions as possible; finishing all 51 is rare.
Realistic scenario: two candidates
Riley sees bird : nest :: bee : ? and thinks “nature.” Riley picks flower because bees like flowers.
Sam bridges “a bird lives in / builds a nest” and picks hive as the dwelling analogue.
Sam preserved structure; Riley matched a theme. Structure wins on analogy items.
Practice design that transfers to test day
Effective drills:
- 10 analogies in 4 minutes, then review only the misses by rewriting bridges
- Sort a mixed list of pairs into relationship types (degree, function, part–whole)
- Create one original analogy per type once a week to force active recognition
- Immediately follow with a short numerical or abstract set so you practise switching families, as the real JOA mix requires
Ineffective drills:
- Memorising hundreds of fixed pairs without stating bridges
- Treating analogies as vocabulary-only when the hard part is relational transfer
- Studying retired multi-paper school maths formats under the label “aptitude” while ignoring verbal structure practice
Common trap list (keep beside your practice log)
| Trap | Example failure mode | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Theme magnet | Everything “medical” or “school-related” looks right | Require the same bridge template |
| Reversed direction | Part–whole applied backwards | Read A→B order explicitly |
| Degree vs synonym | Picks equal word instead of stronger form | Check intensity words in the stem pair |
| Category width | Bird : animal :: car : vehicle vs car : tyre | Keep member–group vs part–whole distinct |
| Grammar drift | Verb–noun pair mapped to noun–noun loosely | Preserve part of speech roles when possible |
Bridge to odd-one-out
Analogies train you to state a rule linking two items. Odd-one-out items (next section) train you to state a rule linking three items and exclude the fourth. The mental muscle is similar: name the rule in plain language, test every member against it, and refuse theme-only stories that almost work.
Before leaving 6.2, lock this mantra: Same relationship, not same topic.
In the analogy “glove : hand :: sock : ?”, which completion best preserves the relationship?
cotton, because both items can be made of fabric
shoe, because socks and shoes are both footwear products
warm, because socks keep people warm like gloves can
foot, because a sock is worn on a foot as a glove is worn on a hand
What is the most reliable first step when solving a verbal analogy under time pressure?
Pick the option most associated with C before examining A and B
Build a short bridge sentence that states how A relates to B, then apply it to C
Memorise the pair as a fixed fact for future tests without stating a relationship
Always reverse A and B because direction never matters in analogies
Which pair best illustrates a degree (intensity) relationship rather than a simple synonym?
warm : hot
begin : start
empty : vacant
car : automobile
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.