Opening subject page...
Loading your content
Learn to spot how objects relate to their jobs so you can ace analogy questions on the SSAT.
People have been using analogies (comparisons that show how two pairs of things are related in the same way) for thousands of years. Ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle used analogies to explain complicated ideas by comparing them to simpler, everyday things. Over time, teachers realized that analogies are a great way to test how well students understand the relationships between words.
So why do standardized tests love analogies? Because they show whether you can figure out how words connect, not just what they mean. One of the most common connections is function or purpose — what something is used for or designed to do. That is exactly what this lesson will teach you.
Before you can solve a function analogy, you need to understand a few key ideas. A function analogy pairs an object with the job it does, or pairs a person with the tool they use. Let's break that down into four core principles.
A picture can make the pattern much easier to see. The diagram below shows how a function analogy works. Notice that the relationship arrow between the first pair is exactly the same type as the arrow between the second pair. Both arrows say "is used for."
Notice the dashed lines on the left and right sides of the diagram. They remind you that the words in the same position play the same role. BROOM and SHOVEL are both tools. SWEEPING and DIGGING are both actions those tools perform. Keeping positions consistent is one of the biggest keys to getting these questions right.
There is no formula with numbers here, but there is a clear, repeatable method you can follow every single time. Think of it as your personal "analogy algorithm" — a set of steps that always leads you to the right answer.
Let's see the method in action with a quick example. Suppose the question reads: THERMOMETER : TEMPERATURE :: CLOCK : _____. Your bridge sentence is: "A THERMOMETER is the tool used to measure TEMPERATURE." Now test the blank: "A CLOCK is the tool used to measure _____." The answer is TIME.
Not every function analogy looks exactly the same. The SSAT mixes things up by presenting the relationship in different orders and with different types of words. The diagram below shows five common sub-types you will run into.
When you sit down with a question, quickly decide which sub-type you are looking at. This helps you build a sharper bridge sentence. For instance, if you see a person paired with an object, try the sentence "A _____ uses a _____ to do their job." If you see an object paired with an abstract idea, try "A _____ provides _____."
Let's solve an SSAT-style analogy from start to finish using the 4-step method.
The SSAT loves to include answer choices that look tempting but actually represent a different kind of relationship. Here are the most common traps students fall into — and how to dodge them.
| Trap Type | What It Looks Like | How to Spot It |
|---|---|---|
| Topic Association | Words that are about the same subject but don't share the function relationship (e.g., CAMERA : FILM) | Plug the pair into your bridge sentence. If it sounds forced or wrong, it's a trap. |
| Part-to-Whole | One word is a piece of the other (e.g., LENS : TELESCOPE) | Ask: "Is one word a physical part of the other?" If yes, that's part-to-whole, not function. |
| Synonym Pair | The two words mean almost the same thing (e.g., LOOK : OBSERVE) | Function pairs have two different types of words (a thing and an action). Synonyms are the same type. |
| Reversed Direction | The answer pair has the right relationship but in the opposite order (e.g., CUTTING : KNIFE) | Check that the first word in your answer matches the same role as the first word in the stem. |
The SSAT tests several different analogy types. Knowing how function analogies compare to the others will help you quickly identify what type you are dealing with — and avoid mixing them up.
| Analogy Type | Bridge Sentence | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Function / Purpose | "A _____ is used for _____." | PEN : WRITING :: BRUSH : PAINTING |
| Synonym | "_____ means almost the same as _____." | HAPPY : JOYFUL :: SAD : SORROWFUL |
| Antonym | "_____ means the opposite of _____." | HOT : COLD :: BRIGHT : DIM |
| Part-to-Whole | "A _____ is a part of a _____." | WHEEL : BICYCLE :: KEY : PIANO |
| Degree / Intensity | "_____ is a stronger form of _____." | WARM : SCORCHING :: COOL : FREEZING |
As you move into the Upper Level SSAT and eventually into high school vocabulary, the words in analogies will get harder. However, the strategy stays the same: identify the relationship type, build a bridge sentence, and test every answer choice. The harder the vocabulary, the more important these steps become.
Try these five problems on your own. Use the 4-step method for each one. After you choose your answer, read the explanation to see if your reasoning was correct.
A function or purpose analogy connects an object to what it does or a person to the tool they use. To solve these questions, always start by identifying the relationship in the stem pair. Then build a specific bridge sentence — something like "A _____ is used for _____." Test each answer choice against that sentence, and eliminate distractors that represent other relationship types such as synonyms, antonyms, part-to-whole, or simple topic associations.
Remember the five common sub-types: tool → action, tool → what it measures, person → tool, object → purpose, and place → what happens there. The more precisely you label the sub-type, the easier it is to find the matching pair. Practice the 4-step method until it becomes second nature, and you will feel confident tackling any function analogy the SSAT throws at you.