Examples of Analogy for Kids in English

An analogy is to compare an idea, concept, or object to something very different from the original. The purpose of the analogy is to explain better while expanding the idea or concept by comparing it to something else which may sound familiar to the reader.

In simple terms, an analogy compares two things which are different from each other but have similar characteristics.

Word analogies, or verbal analogies, are like logic puzzles. These compare two different things and by making them in two parts the relation between them is compared.

Examples of Analogy for Kids

Let us work on examples for better understanding of analogies in different forms:

1. Simple Word Analogy

kitten is to cat as puppy is to ____

Usually, the last word in the analogy is blank. We need to fill up to match the relationship. In this case, the relationship between a kitten and a cat is a young and adult animal, so you can complete the analogy like this:

kitten is to cat as puppy is to dog

2. Synonym Relationships

Synonym relationships are words that mean the same thing. If the first two words in the analogy are synonyms, then the second set of words have to be synonyms as well. Take a look at these analogies with synonym relationships:

  • friendly is to kind as mean is to aggressive
  • rough is to scratchy as smooth is to silky

3. Antonym Relationships

Analogs showing conflicting synonyms and the first two words in this analogy (for example, hot: cold) must have the same relationship as the second words in the other (for example, happy: sad).

Examples of analogies with antonym relationships include:

  • good is to bad as black is to white
  • smile is to frown as pretty is to ugly

4. Part to Whole

The analogy relationships get trickier when you get past synonyms and antonyms, where word order doesn’t matter. Word order matters in a part to whole relationship, in which the first word is a part of something, and the second word is the whole thing. For example:

  • feather is to bird as fur is to dog
  • wolf is to pack as fish is to school

The relationship could be whole to part instead, which means that the whole word comes first and the part word comes second.

  • hand is to finger as foot is to toe
  • class is to student as forest is to tree

5. Tool to Action

Sometimes an analogy relationship lists a tool to the action it performs. In these cases, the order will go noun, verb, noun, verbExamples of tool and action relationships include:

  • pencil is to write as scissors is to cut
  • kitchen is to cook as bedroom is to sleep

6. Person to Action

Sometimes analogy relationships count the tool of the action we take. In these cases, the order will go by name, action, noun. For example:

  • artist is to draw as movie star is to act
  • teacher is to instruct as accountant is to count

7. Category to Example

Category to example is similar to whole to part. It lists category of items first and then an example of that category second. Examples of category to example analogies include:

  • cow is to mammal as snake is to reptile
  • apple is to fruit as carrot is to vegetable

8. Cause to Effect

Cause to effect relationships can be nouns or verbs. However, they need to be the exact same relationship on both sides of the analogy. For example:

  • eat is to fed as sleep is to rested
  • study is to pass as don’t study is to fail

9. Intensity Relationships

Relationships of intensity are another type of analogy where word order matters. They involve one word of a lower intensity than the second word, such as:

  • gray is to black as pink is to red
  • giggle is to laugh as sniffle is to sob

10. Noun to Adjective

You may also see analogies that feature nouns and words that describe them. These noun to adjective relationships include:

  • oven is to hot as refrigerator is to cold
  • pillow is to soft as rock is to hard

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