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?
What is the most reliable first step when solving a verbal analogy under time pressure?
Which pair best illustrates a degree (intensity) relationship rather than a simple synonym?