Analogies

Another way to show relationships in writing!!!

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What are analogies?

Analogies develop logic by analyzing two words to identify the relationship between them

Analogies match pairs of words with the same relationship

: :: :

“An apple is to the color red as an orange is to the color orange.”

How do you read/write analogies?

FIND : LOCATE :: lose : misplace Colon stands for the phrase

“is related to” FIND [is related to] LOCATE::LOSE [is related to]

MISPLACE Double colon (::) stands for

“in the same way that” Read it as: FIND is to LOCATE as lose is to misplace.

Ask Yourself:What is the relationship between the words “find” and “locate”?

How is it similar to the relationship between the words “lose” and “misplace?”

Analogies show relationship

Analogies can show many relationships. These relationships are divided into the following categories:

Synonym/Antonym Part of the Whole Characteristic/Quality Classification Cause/Effect Function Location Degree Performer/Related Object Performer/Related Action Action/Related Object

Synonym/Antonym

Synonyms: Words that have similar meanings What’s the relationship? DRY : ARID :: lost : mislaid

Both words have similar meanings so this relationship is a synonym.

Antonyms: Words that have opposite meanings What’s the relationship?

KIND : CRUEL :: happy : sad Both words have opposite meanings, so their relationship is an

antonym

Part and Whole

Words are related because one is a part of another

What’s the relationship? CHAPTER : BOOK :: fender : automobile

A chapter is a part of a book just as a fender is a part of an automobile.

What’s the relationship? POEM : STANZA :: play : acts

It’s still Part and Whole, but this time the whole comes first.

Characteristic/Quality

Words are related based on similar characteristics or qualities What’s the relationship?

MIRROR : SMOOTH :: sandpaper : rough Mirrors are characteristically smooth just as sandpaper is

characteristically rough.

Let’s try some….

Summer: hot:: winter: __?___ Floor: hard:: pillow: ________ Amber: blonde:: Erica: _______

Classification

Relates words based on how they are classified/categorized

What’s the relationship?POLKA : DANCE :: frog : amphibian

BIRD : CARDINAL :: house : iglooA polka may be classified as a dance; a

cardinal is classified as a bird.

Cause/Effect

Relationship is based off of how one thing impacts another

What’s the relationship?GIFT : JOY :: rain : flood

TEARS : SADNESS :: smiles : joyA gift can cause joy; tears are an

effect of sadness.

Function

Relationship is based on the way something operates or is used

Can also be called “purpose” analogies

What’s the relationship?

KNIFE : CUT :: shovel : digThe function of a knife is to cut.

Location

Relationship is based on where something is found/located

What’s the relationship?

FISH : SEA :: moose : forestA fish can be found in the sea, just as a

moose can be found in a forest.

Degree

Relationship is based on the degree or intensity to which something goes or is done

What’s the relationship?CHUCKLE : LAUGH :: whimper :

cryThese words differ in degree. One is

more intense than the other.

Performer/Object

Relationship is based on how a person uses or relates to an object

What’s the relationship?CASHIER : CASH :: plumber : pipe

A cashier works with cash, just as a plumber works with pipes.

Performer/Action

This relationship is based on how a person relates to or performs an action.

What’s the relationship?AUTHOR : WRITE :: chef : cook

You expect an author to write, just as you expect a chef to cook.

Action/Object

How an action is related to an object; how an object is used in an action

What’s the relationship?

BOIL : EGG :: throw : ballYou boil an egg, just as you throw a

ball. (In these items, the object always receives the action.)