Common Types of Analogies Used on the GRE

Group A: Definitions
These types of analogies play off of the grammatical relationship between the words. As such, they tend to be highly specific
regarding meaning. In other words, these types of analogies usually rely on very strict meanings of the words involved.
● Definition --- Coward : Brave --- A coward is by definition not brave
● Antonyms --- Miser : Spendthrift --- A miser is the opposite of a spendthrift
● Synonyms --- Interloper : Intruder --- An interloper is an intruder
● Level of Intensity --- Mad : Furious --- Furious is more extreme than mad

Group B: Traits and Subsets

These kind of analogies concern what you might call the adjective-subset type of analogies. In these types of analogies, one
word will generally be a noun and the other word will be either an adjective describing a trait of the noun OR another noun that
describes a subset of the first noun.
● Part to Whole --- Star : Galaxy --- Many stars make a galaxy
● Defining Characteristic --- Slippery : Ice --- Ice is slippery
● Class and Member --- Eucalyptus : Tree --- A eucalyptus is a type of tree
● Manner --- Boisterous : Speak --- Boisterous is to speak loudly
● Sex --- Ewe : Sheep --- A ewe is a female sheep
● Age --- Puppy : Dog --- A puppy is a young dog

Group C: Worker and Work

These types of analogies concern workers and their activities. They usually revolve around the tools they use, the products they
make, or the places they work at.
● Worker and Product --- Soufflé : Chef --- A chef makes a soufflé
● Worker and Tool --- Brush : Painter --- A painter works with a brush
● Worker and Action --- Trick : Prestidigitator --- A prestidigitator performs a trick
● Worker and Workplace --- Forge : Blacksmith --- A blacksmith works at a forge

Group D: Purpose or Effect

These types of analogies generally describe a functional relationship between the two words. One word is either caused by the
other OR follows as a purpose of the other.
● Action and Its Significance --- Shiver : Cold --- Shivering means that one is cold
● Function --- Tablecloth : Table --- A tablecloth covers a table
● Tool and Its Action --- Lathe : Carve --- A lathe is used to carve wood
● Symbol and Quality it Represents --- Heart : Love --- A heart is a symbol of love

Group E: Order of Events

These types of analogies describe an ordered relationship. In other words, the relationship between the words is one of physical
or temporal sequence.
● Time Sequence --- Start : Finish --- The start comes before the finish
● Spatial Sequence --- Summit : Valley --- The summit is the high point, the valley is the low point
● Cause and Effect --- Venom : Poisoning --- Venom causes poisoning