EQV-03-04

Analogies — Function & Use

Tool-and-job analogies: a thing and what it is for. Match the purpose, not the topic.

~5 min readDifficulty 2/5

Many analogies link an object to what it does or what it is used for. The bridge is a purpose verb.

The function bridges

BridgeExample
"X is used to Y"SCISSORS : CUT
"X is used for Y"KEY : LOCK ("a key is used to open a lock")
"the job of X is to Y"FILTER : PURIFY

The two words are usually a tool and its action, or a tool and its target.

Keep the purpose exact

Two tools can act on the same area but do different jobs. A broom sweeps; a mop wipes wet floors. If the bridge is "is used to sweep", only a sweeping tool matches.

  • LAMP : LIGHT "A lamp is used to give light."
  • A weak match like CANDLE : WAX fails: wax is what a candle is made of, not what it is for.
Name the purpose precisely. "Used in the kitchen" is too broad; "used to cut" picks exactly one answer.

Function vs. material

A frequent trap pairs a thing with what it is made of (CANDLE : WAX, to fit RING : GOLD) instead of what it is for. Decide whether the bridge is purpose ("used to") or material ("made of") before matching.

Worked examples

Example 1 (difficulty 2/5)
Choose the pair whose words relate in the same way as: KNIFE : CUT

Predict the answer first:

Tips

  • Phrase the bridge with a purpose verb: "is used to ___".
  • Distinguish function ("used to") from material ("made of") before you match.
  • Make the purpose specific (cut, sweep, measure) rather than a broad area (kitchen, cleaning).

Common mistakes

Matching a "made of" pair to a "used to" question
Why: Both describe a property of the object.
Fix: Function = what it does; material = what it is made of. Pick the right bridge first.
Using a purpose that is too broad
Why: "Used in cleaning" fits both broom and mop.
Fix: Tighten the verb (sweep vs. mop) until only one choice survives.
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