Logical Analogies and Relationships: Types, Method and Solved Examples for SSC
Rahul Kumar
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PDF Notes: Logical Analogies and Relationships: Types, Method and Solved Examples for SSC
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An analogy question gives a pair of words and asks you to find another pair with the same relationship. For example, Pen : Write :: Knife : ? The answer is Cut. The topic is easy to score if you identify the type of relationship and test it with a simple sentence. This note lists the types of relationships, the method, the common traps, solved examples, practice questions and FAQs.
The Basic Method
- Read the first pair and find the exact relationship between its two words.
- Make a short sentence: "A is used for B" or "A is a part of B".
- Apply the same sentence, in the same order, to each option.
- Eliminate options where the relationship is reversed or only loosely connected.
- If two options fit, make the sentence more specific until only one remains.
Types of Relationships
| Relationship | Example | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Tool and use | Pen : Write | A pen is used to write |
| Worker and workplace | Doctor : Hospital | A doctor works in a hospital |
| Worker and tool | Carpenter : Saw | A carpenter uses a saw |
| Cause and effect | Exercise : Fitness | Exercise leads to fitness |
| Part and whole | Petal : Flower | A petal is a part of a flower |
| Synonym | Brave : Courageous | Words with the same meaning |
| Antonym | Hot : Cold | Words with opposite meanings |
| Degree (intensity) | Drizzle : Rain | Drizzle is a light form of rain |
| Young one | Cow : Calf | A calf is the young of a cow |
| Group or collective | Bees : Swarm | A swarm is a group of bees |
| Instrument and measure | Thermometer : Temperature | A thermometer measures temperature |
| Quantity and unit | Length : Metre | Length is measured in metres |
| Creator and creation | Author : Book | An author writes a book |
| Place and product | Assam : Tea | Assam is famous for tea |
| Need and fulfilment | Thirst : Water | Water satisfies thirst |
Common Traps
- Reversed order: Pen : Write is not the same as Write : Pen. Keep the order fixed.
- Loose connection: A word may be related in many ways; pick the same relationship as the question pair, not just any link.
- Mixed categories: If the first pair is "worker : place", do not choose "worker : tool".
- Degree words: Check which word is stronger. Whisper : Shout is a degree analogy; the direction should match.
- Spelling or letter patterns: Some questions may be about letters; check this before looking at the meaning.
Solved Examples
| Question | Answer and reason |
|---|---|
| Doctor : Hospital :: Teacher : ? | School. A teacher works in a school. |
| Pen : Write :: Knife : ? | Cut. A knife is used to cut. |
| Petal : Flower :: Page : ? | Book. A page is a part of a book. |
| Horse : Foal :: Cow : ? | Calf. Young one of the animal. |
| Thermometer : Temperature :: Barometer : ? | Pressure. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure. |
| Author : Book :: Composer : ? | Symphony (or music). A composer creates music. |
| Cattle : Herd :: Bees : ? | Swarm. The collective noun of bees. |
| Hunger : Food :: Thirst : ? | Water. Need and fulfilment. |
| Whisper : Shout :: Drizzle : ? | Downpour. The intensity increases from the first word to the second. |
Practice Approach
- Build a list of relationship types and one example for each.
- Spend about 20 seconds on each question; if you cannot make a sentence, mark and move on.
- Read the options in the order of the question pair, for example first word to first word.
- Revise common collective nouns, young ones, tools and the units of measurement from the static GK part.
Quick Tips
- Always turn the pair into a sentence before looking at the options.
- Keep the order of the pair the same in the answer.
- Group-based analogies (collective noun, young one) are fact-based; learn the lists.
- If two options seem to fit, pick the one whose relationship is closest to the question pair.
Quick Revision Points
- Identify the relationship type first.
- Make a sentence and test every option.
- Order of the pair must stay the same.
- Learn collective nouns, young ones and units.
- Eliminate reversed relationships.
Practice Questions With Answers
- Doctor : Patient :: Lawyer : ?
Answer: Client - Pen : Write :: Spoon : ?
Answer: Eat (or feed) - Leaf : Tree :: Wheel : ?
Answer: Car (vehicle) - Dog : Puppy :: Cat : ?
Answer: Kitten - Length : Metre :: Mass : ?
Answer: Kilogram - Fish : School :: Sheep : ?
Answer: Flock - Fire : Burn :: Water : ?
Answer: Wet (quench) - Anger : Rage :: Joy : ?
Answer: Ecstasy - Library : Books :: Museum : ?
Answer: Antiques (artefacts) - Painter : Brush :: Writer : ?
Answer: Pen
How to Practise This Chapter
Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Logical Analogies and Relationships notes page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an analogy question?
A question where you find a pair of words with the same relationship as a given pair.
How do I solve analogy questions quickly?
Find the relationship, form a sentence and test it on the options.
What are the common types of analogy?
Tool and use, cause and effect, part and whole, synonym, antonym, degree, worker and workplace and young one.
Does the order of the pair matter?
Yes. Reversing the order changes the relationship.
What is a degree analogy?
A relation where the second word is a stronger or weaker form of the first word.
What should I do if two options seem correct?
Make the relationship more specific and choose the closest match.
Are analogy questions asked in SSC?
Yes, they appear regularly in SSC CGL, CHSL and CPO reasoning papers.
Is a word analogy different from a number analogy?
Yes. A number analogy uses arithmetic rules; a word analogy uses meaning-based relationships.
How can I improve my vocabulary for analogies?
Read daily, and learn collective nouns, young ones, synonyms and antonyms.
What is a collective noun analogy?
A pair of an animal or thing and the group word, such as Bees : Swarm.
What is the best way to practise?
Solve 15 to 20 analogy questions a day and review the relationship type for each.
Can the same word have more than one relationship?
Yes, so match the exact relationship of the question pair.
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Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Rahul is a senior SSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CGL, CHSL and MTS exams. He writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.