englishforeveryone.

org

Classic Analogy Bridges

The best strategy to use when completing analogies problems is the bridge sentence strategy. Bridge
sentences are helpful because they enable the student to instantly recognize the answer pair by plugging it
into the bridge sentence formulated from the question pair. If the bridge sentence works with both the
question pair and answer pair, then you know you have found the correct answer. To learn more about
bridge sentences, please look at the following examples:

Function Bridge:

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

bag : buy
baby : cry
cloud : rain
fork : eat
car : stop

Degree Bridge:

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

hard : difficult
hot : warm
funny : hilarious
right : wrong
young : new

Lack Bridge:

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

serious : humor
painful : happiness
old : age
hot : heat
sweet : strength

A shovel is used to dig.

A fork is used to eat.

Something that is extremely bad

is terrible.
Something that is extremely
funny is hilarious.

Something ugly lacks beauty.

Something serious lacks humor.

Characteristic Bridge:

Definition Bridge:

Type/Kind Bridge:

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

man : strong
time : fast
money : powerful
movie : exciting
fire : hot

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

plant : flower
lamb : sheep
shirt : sweater
pond : lake
wind : fire

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

knee : leg
rose : flower
automobile : car
pencil : paper
school : punishment

A characteristic of a candy is to
be sweet.
A characteristic of a fire is to be
hot.

By definition, an adult boy is a

man.
By definition, an adult lamb is a
sheep.

A wrench is a type of tool.

A rose is a type of flower.

Part to Whole Bridge:

Other:

Other:

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

ball : game
clock : room
wheel : car
hat : suit
man : woman

A finger is part of a hand.

A wheel is part of a car.

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

plant : tree
bag : jacket
suit : watch
necklace : neck
mountain : ocean

A ring is worn around the finger.

A necklace is worn around the
neck.

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

ants : city
humans : barn
birds : nest
snakes : house
bears : hotel

Bees make their home in a hive.

Birds make their home in a nest.