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Before we go on to the Top Tips for Analogies, let us first see what exactly is an analogy.
The mathematical form of expressing an analogy is
2:4 :: 5:10
in which there are two pairs of numbers (2,4) and (5,10). A colon sign divides each pair of numbers,
while two colon signs divide the two pairs themselves.
The above mathematical statement means that the number 2 has the same relationship to the number 4
as the number 5 has to the number 10. You can easily recognize the relationship, which is that the first
number in each pair is equal to half of the second number in that pair.
The above mathematical statement may be read as "2 is to 4 just as 5 is to 10". The single colon stands
for the phrase "is to", while the double colon stands for the conjunction "just as".
Another mathematical statement that expresses an analogy is:
3:9 :: 7:21
In the above example, ''The first number in each pair is one-third of the second number". This can also
be restated as ''The second number in each pair is equal to three times the first number".
Consider the example
4:16 :: 5:25
If you had recognized the relationship between the numbers 4 and 16 as "The second number is four
times the first number", you will find that the numbers 5 and 25 do not have a similar relationship.
The correct analogical relationship between the above two pairs is that 4 is the square root of 16 just as
5 is the square root of 25.
Similarly, in the relationship
64:4 :: 125:5
the first number in each pair is the cube of the second number. If you reverse the order of the pair on
only one of the two sides, it no longer remains an analogical relationship.
For example, you cannot write 64:4 :: 5:125 as an analogical relationship.
But, if you reverse the order of the pairs on both sides simultaneously, the analogy still holds
good. For example, the statement 64:4 :: 125 :5 is equivalent to the analogical statement
4 :64 :: 5 :125.
A Verbal Analogy follows the same logic except that, instead of numbers, words are used to express
the analogical relationship.
A typical and simple verbal analogy is
kitten: cat :: pup: dog
You can easily understand and appreciate the relationship in this statement:
A kitten is a young cat, just as a pup is a young dog.
One more example is
sea: ocean :: stream: river
The analogical relationship between these two pairs of words can be expressed as:
"An ocean is a large sea, just as a river is a large stream".
Consider the analogy
king: palace :: nun : convent
The analogical relationship in this example is ''A king lives in a palace, just as a nun lives in a convent".
Another example is:
large: big :: poor: impecunious
The analogical relationship here is "The word 'big' is a synonym of the word 'large', just as the word
'impecunious' is a synonym of the word 'poor'".
You can notice that, in all the above examples except the last, the words in the analogical relationships
signify living or tangible items. In the last example, the words do not represent concrete objects, but
represent intangible ideas.
Therefore, an analogical relationship may encompass living beings including men and women,
as well as inanimate things or abstract ideas.
In the questions on Analogy in GRE , one pair of words will be given in capital letters, and below them
will be given five other pairs of words labeled (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E).
Only one of these pairs will have the same relationship between themselves that the original pair of
words have. You will have to identify this pair, and choose it as the answer to the question.
Here is an illustration of a typical question in GRE
ROOM: HOUSE ::
(A) refrigerator: kitchen (B) furniture: room
(C) cabin: ship (D) wheel : chair
(E) gasoline: car
Obviously, a simple sentence that logically links the words 'room' and 'house' is: ''A room is part of a
house".
To spot the correct answer among the five given choices, form a similar linking sentence with each of
these pairs of words, and test which among them makes an equally valid logical sense.
The similar linking sentences that you can form are:
(A) A refrigerator is part of a kitchen (B) A furniture is part of a room
(C) A cabin is part of a ship (D) A wheel is part of a chair
(E) Gasoline is part of a car
While we may keep a refrigerator in the kitchen, we cannot say that a refrigerator is part of a kitchen.
There may be a number of kitchens where there is no refrigerator. So, (A) does not make logical sense.
Similarly, while furniture may be kept in a room, it does not become part of a room. (B) does not make
logical sense either. A wheel is not a part of a chair (except in the case of wheelchairs), and gasoline
(though it is used to run a car) is certainly not a part of a car. Therefore, (D) and (E) are not logical
statements.
It is only the statement "A cabin is part of a ship" that makes logical sense, and is also analogical to the
statement "A room is part of a house"
.
Therefore, you should choose (C) as the answer to this question.
Even while analysing the above example, we have indicated the step-by-step method you should
adopt while tackling the questions on analogy.
Five Steps to tackling the GRE Analogy section
(i) The first step is to recognize the logical relationship between the given pair of words.
(ii) The next step is to form, in your mind, a simple linking sentence which logically expresses this
relationship.
(iii) The next step is to form a similar linking sentence with each of the five pairs in the answer choices
and test each such sentence for logical validity.
(iv) If you had framed your linking sentence correctly, you will find that four of the five similar sentences
that you form with the answer choices do not make logical sense.
(v) The final step is to select that choice with reference to which your sentence makes logical sense,
and mark that as the answer to the question.
It is not necessary that the sentence formed by you should always have the first word of the given pair
as the subject. In the above example, you could as well have formed the sentence "A house has many
rooms", by reversing the order in which the pair of words has been given.
But if you do so, you should reverse the order in everyone of the answer choices while forming similar
sentences with them.
In the above example, if you had thought of "A house has many rooms" as your original linking
sentence, you must try the sentences:
(A) A kitchen has many refrigerators (B)A room has many furniture
(C) A ship has many cabins (D)A chair has many wheels
(E) A car has many (or much) gasoline
Even if you had formed your sentences in this manner, you would notice that it is only (C) which makes
logical sense, and is the answer.
Therefore, the order in which the two given words appear in your linking sentence does not
matter, provided you follow the same order while forming similar linking sen¬tences with the pairs of
words in the answer choices.
TYPES OF ANALOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS
You can see from the examples given earlier that the analogical relationships between a pair of words
can be of many different categories.
Through a careful analysis of the questions in GRE you can see that most of the analogical
relationships featured in them can be reduced to just 35 specific categories.
Once you know and understand these categories, answering the Analogy questions
becomes that much easier.
We enumerate below these categories and explain each of them with typical examples.
1. PERSON AND TOOL
In this type of questions, one word in the pair represents an artisan, scientist or professional, and the
other word represents the tool or the instrument used by him in his vocation or profession.
A simple example of this type is:
carpenter: saw:: writer: pen
The analogical relationship in this example can be stated as:
"A carpenter uses a saw in the course of his work; a writer uses a pen in the course of his work"
Two more examples of this type are:
astronomer: telescope :: physician: stethoscope
mason: plumb line :: sailor: compass
The sentences linking each of these pairs of words are similar to that in the first example. Since the
analogical relationships among all these pairs of words are identical, you can group them in pairs in any
manner, such as:
carpenter: saw:: sailor: compass
writer: pen:: physician: stethoscope
astronomer: telescope:: mason: plumb line
The above statement is generally true in respect of all the categories described below except those
where the distinction has been specifically pointed out.
2. PERSON AND WORKPLACE
In this type, one word mentions an artisan or a scientist or a professional or a worker or an official, and
the other word represents the place where he usually carries on his vocation.
An example of this type is:
scientist: laboratory :: nurse: hospital
The statements which describe the analogical relationship between the pairs of words are:
"A scientist works in a laboratory; a nurse works in a hospital"
Two more examples of this type are:
waiter: restaurant :: teller: bank
stenographer: office :: compositor: printing press
teacher: school :: judge: court
The linking sentences for these examples are:
"A waiter works in a restaurant; a teller works in a bank"
"A stenographer works in an office; a compositor works in a printing press"
"A teacher works in a school; a judge works in a court"
3. PERSON AND PRODUCT
In this type of questions, one word in each pair refers to a worker and the other word mentions what he
produces.
An example is:
carpenter: furniture :: artist: picture
The obvious analogical statements are: "A carpenter produces furniture; an artist produces pictures"
Two more examples of this type are:
composer: symphony:: choreographer: ballet
farmer: food grains :: architect: building designs
The analogical statements in these cases are:
"A symphony is created by a composer; a ballet is created by a choreographer"
"A farmer produces food grains; an architect produces building designs"
4. PERSON AND GOAL
In this type of analogies, one word represents a person by his vocation and the other represents what
he is looking for.
An example of this type is:
prospector: oil :: alchemist: gold
The analogical relationship between these pairs of words can be expressed as:
"A prospector seeks oil; an alchemist seeks gold"
Two more examples of this type are:
explorer: new territory :: archaeologist: artifacts entrepreneur: profit :: employee: salary
The analogical statements for these pairs of words are obtained through the linking verb 'seeks'.
5. PERSON AND WHAT HE AVOIDS
In this type, one word represents a person by his vocation or belief, and the other represents a thing or
action that he usually avoids.
An example of this type is:
sailor: reef :: driver: road block
The analogical relationship between these pairs of words can be expressed as:
"A sailor avoids reefs; a driver avoids road blocks"
Two more examples of similar analogical relationship are:
teetotaler: drinks :: pacifist: violence
misogynist: women :: vegetarian: meat
The linking verb between each pair of words above is 'avoids'
6. PERSON AND SPECIALTY
In another frequently featured type of analogy questions, one word refers to a specialist or a
professional, or a scientist, or a hobbyist, and the other indicates his specialty, or profession, or
science, or hobby respectively.
An example of this type is:
cardiologist : heart :: orthopedist: bone
"A cardiologist treats diseases of the heart; an orthopedist treats diseases of the bone"
A few more examples of this type are
numismatist: coins :: philatelist: stamps
cartographer: maps :: lexicographer: dictionary
necromancer: witchcraft :: astronomer: stars
The analogical statements in these cases are:
"A numismatist's hobby is the collection of coins; a philatelist's hobby is the collection of stamps"
"A cartographer's specialty is the drawing of maps; a lexicographer's specialty is the compil¬ing of
dictionaries"
"A necromancer is a specialist on witchcraft; an astronomer is a specialist on stars"
7. PERSON AND SKILL
Persons in specific vocations have specific talents or skills. Some questions on Analogies test your
knowledge in this area.
Examples of such relationships are:
athlete: agility:: surgeon: dexterity
novelist: imagination :: connoisseur: taste
The linking sentences in these cases are:
"An athlete requires agility; a surgeon requires dexterity"
"A novelist has imagination; a connoisseur has taste"
8. PERSON AND WORK RELATION
Here person with specific vocations are grouped with the type of people he deals with.
Examples of this type are:
doctor: patient :: lawyer: client
shopkeeper: customer :: hotelier: guest
lender: borrower :: tutor: student
The linking sentences for these examples are:
"A doctor works for his patient; a lawyer works for his client"
"A shopkeeper depends on his customers; a hotelier depends on his guests"
"A lender lends to his borrower; a tutor teaches his student"
(Note that, as in the last example, the linking sentences that you form may not be exactly iden¬tical to
each other in all cases of analogical relationships, and some slight changes will have to be made.)
9. THING AND PURPOSE
In this type of questions, one word in each pair mentions a commonly used item and the other indicates
what it is used for. The linking phrase in the analogical sentences will usually be "is used for" followed by
an appropriate verb. .
Examples are:
bait: fish :: snare : birds
amulet: evil :: helmet: injury
saccharine : sugar :: margarine: butter
The analogical statements in the above examples are:
"A bait is used for catching fish; a snare is used for catching birds"
"An amulet is used for preventing evil; a helmet is used for preventing injury"
"Saccharine is used as a substitute for sugar; margarine is used as a substitute for butter"
In a simpler form of this type of questions, a tool and what it does form the pair of words.
Examples are:
razor: shave :: guillotine: decapitate
cup : drink :: plate: eat
car: travel :: bed: sleep
The obvious analogical statements linking these pairs of words are:
"A razor is used for shaving; a guillotine is used for decapitating"
"A cup is used for drinking; a plate is used for eating"
"A car is used for traveling; a bed is used for sleeping"
10. THING AND PLACE
In this type of questions, one word in each pair represents a thing and the other mentions the place
where it is normally found.
Examples of this type are:
gallery: paintings :: show room: cars
piston: cylinder: elevator: shaft
airplane: hangar :: motorcar: garage
The linking sentences in these cases are:
"Paintings are exhibited in a gallery; cars are exhibited in a show room"
"A piston moves within a cylinder; an elevator moves within a shaft"
"An airplane is parked in a hangar; a motorcar is parked in a garage"
11. THING AND RAW MATERIAL
In this type of questions, one word in each pair mentions an article, and the other word repre¬sents the
main raw material from which it is made.
An example involving this relationship is:
cloth: cotton :: steel : iron
The linking sentences which establish the analogical relationship between these pairs of words are:
"Cloth is made from cotton; steel is made from iron"
Two more examples of this relationship are:
paper: fibre :: drawing: charcoal
furniture: wood :: wall: brick
The linking sentences in these cases are:
"Paper is made from fibre; a drawing is made with charcoal"
"Furniture is made from wood; wall is made with bricks"
12. THING AND WHAT IT CONTAINS
Here a substance and its ingredients are grouped together.
An example of this type is:
coffee : caffeine :: tobacco: nicotine
The explanatory analogical sentences are:
"Coffee contains caffeine; tobacco contains nicotine" (Caffeine and nicotine are the substances that
make coffee and tobacco mild stimulants, but they are not raw materials for coffee and tobacco.)
Two more examples of the same relationship are:
milk: protein :: whisky: alcohol
air: oxygen :: oil : fat
The analogical relationships in these cases can be expressed as:
"Milk contains protein; whisky contains alcohol"
"Air contains oxygen; jam contains fruit"
13. THINGS THAT GO TOGETHER
There are a number of items of daily use which usually go together, such as a lock and a key. One type
of analogy questions features such pairs.
Examples of this type are:
piston: cylinder :: razor: blade
hammer: anvil: pestle: mortar
lock: key:: pen : nib
The linking sentences in these cases are:
"A piston and a cylinder go together; a razor-and a blade go together"
"A hammer and an anvil go together; a pestle and a mortar go together"
"A lock and key go together; a pen and nib go together"
14. ACTION AND PURPOSE
In this type of questions, one word in each pair mentions an action, and the other mentions
the purpose of that action.
An example is exercise : strength :: practice : proficiency
The linking analogical sentences in this case are:
"We exercise in order to gain strength; we practice in order to gain proficiency"
Some more examples of this type are:
poll: opinion :: test : knowledge
compete: succeed :: eat: grow
travel: destination :: climb: summit
The analogical sentences for the above examples are:
"A poll is held in order to ascertain opinion; a test is held in order to ascertain knowledge"
"We compete in order to succeed; we eat in order to grow"
"We travel in order to reach a destination; we climb in order to reach the summit"
15. ACTION AND PLACE
In this type, one word in the pair represents an action, and the other represents the place where the
action usually takes place.
An example is:
play: theater :: match: stadium
The obvious linking sentence in this case is:
"A play is held in a theater; a match is held in a stadium"
Similar examples are:
run : track :: swim ::water
ski : snow:: fly : air
The linking sentences in these cases are:
"One runs on a track; one swims in water"
"One skis on snow; one flies in the air"
For the complete list of Analogy relationships, have a look at:
Analogies & Verbal Question bank for GRE Winners
Now for some Practice?
Click here for GRE Analogies sample Questions with complete
explanations.
The mathematical form of expressing an analogy is
2:4 :: 5:10
in which there are two pairs of numbers (2,4) and (5,10). A colon sign divides each pair of numbers,
while two colon signs divide the two pairs themselves.
The above mathematical statement means that the number 2 has the same relationship to the number 4
as the number 5 has to the number 10. You can easily recognize the relationship, which is that the first
number in each pair is equal to half of the second number in that pair.
The above mathematical statement may be read as "2 is to 4 just as 5 is to 10". The single colon stands
for the phrase "is to", while the double colon stands for the conjunction "just as".
Another mathematical statement that expresses an analogy is:
3:9 :: 7:21
In the above example, ''The first number in each pair is one-third of the second number". This can also
be restated as ''The second number in each pair is equal to three times the first number".
Consider the example
4:16 :: 5:25
If you had recognized the relationship between the numbers 4 and 16 as "The second number is four
times the first number", you will find that the numbers 5 and 25 do not have a similar relationship.
The correct analogical relationship between the above two pairs is that 4 is the square root of 16 just as
5 is the square root of 25.
Similarly, in the relationship
64:4 :: 125:5
the first number in each pair is the cube of the second number. If you reverse the order of the pair on
only one of the two sides, it no longer remains an analogical relationship.
For example, you cannot write 64:4 :: 5:125 as an analogical relationship.
But, if you reverse the order of the pairs on both sides simultaneously, the analogy still holds
good. For example, the statement 64:4 :: 125 :5 is equivalent to the analogical statement
4 :64 :: 5 :125.
A Verbal Analogy follows the same logic except that, instead of numbers, words are used to express
the analogical relationship.
A typical and simple verbal analogy is
kitten: cat :: pup: dog
You can easily understand and appreciate the relationship in this statement:
A kitten is a young cat, just as a pup is a young dog.
One more example is
sea: ocean :: stream: river
The analogical relationship between these two pairs of words can be expressed as:
"An ocean is a large sea, just as a river is a large stream".
Consider the analogy
king: palace :: nun : convent
The analogical relationship in this example is ''A king lives in a palace, just as a nun lives in a convent".
Another example is:
large: big :: poor: impecunious
The analogical relationship here is "The word 'big' is a synonym of the word 'large', just as the word
'impecunious' is a synonym of the word 'poor'".
You can notice that, in all the above examples except the last, the words in the analogical relationships
signify living or tangible items. In the last example, the words do not represent concrete objects, but
represent intangible ideas.
Therefore, an analogical relationship may encompass living beings including men and women,
as well as inanimate things or abstract ideas.
In the questions on Analogy in GRE , one pair of words will be given in capital letters, and below them
will be given five other pairs of words labeled (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E).
Only one of these pairs will have the same relationship between themselves that the original pair of
words have. You will have to identify this pair, and choose it as the answer to the question.
Here is an illustration of a typical question in GRE
ROOM: HOUSE ::
(A) refrigerator: kitchen (B) furniture: room
(C) cabin: ship (D) wheel : chair
(E) gasoline: car
Obviously, a simple sentence that logically links the words 'room' and 'house' is: ''A room is part of a
house".
To spot the correct answer among the five given choices, form a similar linking sentence with each of
these pairs of words, and test which among them makes an equally valid logical sense.
The similar linking sentences that you can form are:
(A) A refrigerator is part of a kitchen (B) A furniture is part of a room
(C) A cabin is part of a ship (D) A wheel is part of a chair
(E) Gasoline is part of a car
While we may keep a refrigerator in the kitchen, we cannot say that a refrigerator is part of a kitchen.
There may be a number of kitchens where there is no refrigerator. So, (A) does not make logical sense.
Similarly, while furniture may be kept in a room, it does not become part of a room. (B) does not make
logical sense either. A wheel is not a part of a chair (except in the case of wheelchairs), and gasoline
(though it is used to run a car) is certainly not a part of a car. Therefore, (D) and (E) are not logical
statements.
It is only the statement "A cabin is part of a ship" that makes logical sense, and is also analogical to the
statement "A room is part of a house"
.
Therefore, you should choose (C) as the answer to this question.
Even while analysing the above example, we have indicated the step-by-step method you should
adopt while tackling the questions on analogy.
Five Steps to tackling the GRE Analogy section
(i) The first step is to recognize the logical relationship between the given pair of words.
(ii) The next step is to form, in your mind, a simple linking sentence which logically expresses this
relationship.
(iii) The next step is to form a similar linking sentence with each of the five pairs in the answer choices
and test each such sentence for logical validity.
(iv) If you had framed your linking sentence correctly, you will find that four of the five similar sentences
that you form with the answer choices do not make logical sense.
(v) The final step is to select that choice with reference to which your sentence makes logical sense,
and mark that as the answer to the question.
It is not necessary that the sentence formed by you should always have the first word of the given pair
as the subject. In the above example, you could as well have formed the sentence "A house has many
rooms", by reversing the order in which the pair of words has been given.
But if you do so, you should reverse the order in everyone of the answer choices while forming similar
sentences with them.
In the above example, if you had thought of "A house has many rooms" as your original linking
sentence, you must try the sentences:
(A) A kitchen has many refrigerators (B)A room has many furniture
(C) A ship has many cabins (D)A chair has many wheels
(E) A car has many (or much) gasoline
Even if you had formed your sentences in this manner, you would notice that it is only (C) which makes
logical sense, and is the answer.
Therefore, the order in which the two given words appear in your linking sentence does not
matter, provided you follow the same order while forming similar linking sen¬tences with the pairs of
words in the answer choices.
TYPES OF ANALOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS
You can see from the examples given earlier that the analogical relationships between a pair of words
can be of many different categories.
Through a careful analysis of the questions in GRE you can see that most of the analogical
relationships featured in them can be reduced to just 35 specific categories.
Once you know and understand these categories, answering the Analogy questions
becomes that much easier.
We enumerate below these categories and explain each of them with typical examples.
1. PERSON AND TOOL
In this type of questions, one word in the pair represents an artisan, scientist or professional, and the
other word represents the tool or the instrument used by him in his vocation or profession.
A simple example of this type is:
carpenter: saw:: writer: pen
The analogical relationship in this example can be stated as:
"A carpenter uses a saw in the course of his work; a writer uses a pen in the course of his work"
Two more examples of this type are:
astronomer: telescope :: physician: stethoscope
mason: plumb line :: sailor: compass
The sentences linking each of these pairs of words are similar to that in the first example. Since the
analogical relationships among all these pairs of words are identical, you can group them in pairs in any
manner, such as:
carpenter: saw:: sailor: compass
writer: pen:: physician: stethoscope
astronomer: telescope:: mason: plumb line
The above statement is generally true in respect of all the categories described below except those
where the distinction has been specifically pointed out.
2. PERSON AND WORKPLACE
In this type, one word mentions an artisan or a scientist or a professional or a worker or an official, and
the other word represents the place where he usually carries on his vocation.
An example of this type is:
scientist: laboratory :: nurse: hospital
The statements which describe the analogical relationship between the pairs of words are:
"A scientist works in a laboratory; a nurse works in a hospital"
Two more examples of this type are:
waiter: restaurant :: teller: bank
stenographer: office :: compositor: printing press
teacher: school :: judge: court
The linking sentences for these examples are:
"A waiter works in a restaurant; a teller works in a bank"
"A stenographer works in an office; a compositor works in a printing press"
"A teacher works in a school; a judge works in a court"
3. PERSON AND PRODUCT
In this type of questions, one word in each pair refers to a worker and the other word mentions what he
produces.
An example is:
carpenter: furniture :: artist: picture
The obvious analogical statements are: "A carpenter produces furniture; an artist produces pictures"
Two more examples of this type are:
composer: symphony:: choreographer: ballet
farmer: food grains :: architect: building designs
The analogical statements in these cases are:
"A symphony is created by a composer; a ballet is created by a choreographer"
"A farmer produces food grains; an architect produces building designs"
4. PERSON AND GOAL
In this type of analogies, one word represents a person by his vocation and the other represents what
he is looking for.
An example of this type is:
prospector: oil :: alchemist: gold
The analogical relationship between these pairs of words can be expressed as:
"A prospector seeks oil; an alchemist seeks gold"
Two more examples of this type are:
explorer: new territory :: archaeologist: artifacts entrepreneur: profit :: employee: salary
The analogical statements for these pairs of words are obtained through the linking verb 'seeks'.
5. PERSON AND WHAT HE AVOIDS
In this type, one word represents a person by his vocation or belief, and the other represents a thing or
action that he usually avoids.
An example of this type is:
sailor: reef :: driver: road block
The analogical relationship between these pairs of words can be expressed as:
"A sailor avoids reefs; a driver avoids road blocks"
Two more examples of similar analogical relationship are:
teetotaler: drinks :: pacifist: violence
misogynist: women :: vegetarian: meat
The linking verb between each pair of words above is 'avoids'
6. PERSON AND SPECIALTY
In another frequently featured type of analogy questions, one word refers to a specialist or a
professional, or a scientist, or a hobbyist, and the other indicates his specialty, or profession, or
science, or hobby respectively.
An example of this type is:
cardiologist : heart :: orthopedist: bone
"A cardiologist treats diseases of the heart; an orthopedist treats diseases of the bone"
A few more examples of this type are
numismatist: coins :: philatelist: stamps
cartographer: maps :: lexicographer: dictionary
necromancer: witchcraft :: astronomer: stars
The analogical statements in these cases are:
"A numismatist's hobby is the collection of coins; a philatelist's hobby is the collection of stamps"
"A cartographer's specialty is the drawing of maps; a lexicographer's specialty is the compil¬ing of
dictionaries"
"A necromancer is a specialist on witchcraft; an astronomer is a specialist on stars"
7. PERSON AND SKILL
Persons in specific vocations have specific talents or skills. Some questions on Analogies test your
knowledge in this area.
Examples of such relationships are:
athlete: agility:: surgeon: dexterity
novelist: imagination :: connoisseur: taste
The linking sentences in these cases are:
"An athlete requires agility; a surgeon requires dexterity"
"A novelist has imagination; a connoisseur has taste"
8. PERSON AND WORK RELATION
Here person with specific vocations are grouped with the type of people he deals with.
Examples of this type are:
doctor: patient :: lawyer: client
shopkeeper: customer :: hotelier: guest
lender: borrower :: tutor: student
The linking sentences for these examples are:
"A doctor works for his patient; a lawyer works for his client"
"A shopkeeper depends on his customers; a hotelier depends on his guests"
"A lender lends to his borrower; a tutor teaches his student"
(Note that, as in the last example, the linking sentences that you form may not be exactly iden¬tical to
each other in all cases of analogical relationships, and some slight changes will have to be made.)
9. THING AND PURPOSE
In this type of questions, one word in each pair mentions a commonly used item and the other indicates
what it is used for. The linking phrase in the analogical sentences will usually be "is used for" followed by
an appropriate verb. .
Examples are:
bait: fish :: snare : birds
amulet: evil :: helmet: injury
saccharine : sugar :: margarine: butter
The analogical statements in the above examples are:
"A bait is used for catching fish; a snare is used for catching birds"
"An amulet is used for preventing evil; a helmet is used for preventing injury"
"Saccharine is used as a substitute for sugar; margarine is used as a substitute for butter"
In a simpler form of this type of questions, a tool and what it does form the pair of words.
Examples are:
razor: shave :: guillotine: decapitate
cup : drink :: plate: eat
car: travel :: bed: sleep
The obvious analogical statements linking these pairs of words are:
"A razor is used for shaving; a guillotine is used for decapitating"
"A cup is used for drinking; a plate is used for eating"
"A car is used for traveling; a bed is used for sleeping"
10. THING AND PLACE
In this type of questions, one word in each pair represents a thing and the other mentions the place
where it is normally found.
Examples of this type are:
gallery: paintings :: show room: cars
piston: cylinder: elevator: shaft
airplane: hangar :: motorcar: garage
The linking sentences in these cases are:
"Paintings are exhibited in a gallery; cars are exhibited in a show room"
"A piston moves within a cylinder; an elevator moves within a shaft"
"An airplane is parked in a hangar; a motorcar is parked in a garage"
11. THING AND RAW MATERIAL
In this type of questions, one word in each pair mentions an article, and the other word repre¬sents the
main raw material from which it is made.
An example involving this relationship is:
cloth: cotton :: steel : iron
The linking sentences which establish the analogical relationship between these pairs of words are:
"Cloth is made from cotton; steel is made from iron"
Two more examples of this relationship are:
paper: fibre :: drawing: charcoal
furniture: wood :: wall: brick
The linking sentences in these cases are:
"Paper is made from fibre; a drawing is made with charcoal"
"Furniture is made from wood; wall is made with bricks"
12. THING AND WHAT IT CONTAINS
Here a substance and its ingredients are grouped together.
An example of this type is:
coffee : caffeine :: tobacco: nicotine
The explanatory analogical sentences are:
"Coffee contains caffeine; tobacco contains nicotine" (Caffeine and nicotine are the substances that
make coffee and tobacco mild stimulants, but they are not raw materials for coffee and tobacco.)
Two more examples of the same relationship are:
milk: protein :: whisky: alcohol
air: oxygen :: oil : fat
The analogical relationships in these cases can be expressed as:
"Milk contains protein; whisky contains alcohol"
"Air contains oxygen; jam contains fruit"
13. THINGS THAT GO TOGETHER
There are a number of items of daily use which usually go together, such as a lock and a key. One type
of analogy questions features such pairs.
Examples of this type are:
piston: cylinder :: razor: blade
hammer: anvil: pestle: mortar
lock: key:: pen : nib
The linking sentences in these cases are:
"A piston and a cylinder go together; a razor-and a blade go together"
"A hammer and an anvil go together; a pestle and a mortar go together"
"A lock and key go together; a pen and nib go together"
14. ACTION AND PURPOSE
In this type of questions, one word in each pair mentions an action, and the other mentions
the purpose of that action.
An example is exercise : strength :: practice : proficiency
The linking analogical sentences in this case are:
"We exercise in order to gain strength; we practice in order to gain proficiency"
Some more examples of this type are:
poll: opinion :: test : knowledge
compete: succeed :: eat: grow
travel: destination :: climb: summit
The analogical sentences for the above examples are:
"A poll is held in order to ascertain opinion; a test is held in order to ascertain knowledge"
"We compete in order to succeed; we eat in order to grow"
"We travel in order to reach a destination; we climb in order to reach the summit"
15. ACTION AND PLACE
In this type, one word in the pair represents an action, and the other represents the place where the
action usually takes place.
An example is:
play: theater :: match: stadium
The obvious linking sentence in this case is:
"A play is held in a theater; a match is held in a stadium"
Similar examples are:
run : track :: swim ::water
ski : snow:: fly : air
The linking sentences in these cases are:
"One runs on a track; one swims in water"
"One skis on snow; one flies in the air"
For the complete list of Analogy relationships, have a look at:
Analogies & Verbal Question bank for GRE Winners
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