Kimono is to dress as kilt is to skirt? What does this mean?

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Please help me explain what kind of the word “dress” is. Is it a verb? I think that because it is behind “to”.
Please tell me its grammatical structure.
Thanks very much.

" Kimono is to dress as kilt is to skirt."

Thanks a lot.

2

Dress falls into many grammatical categories :wink:
It can be used as a noun, as in to wear a dress, as a verb (as in the example you gave yoursel), as an adjective, as in dress material. It depends on how you want to use it: if you use to dress, it is the verb, if without to - either noun or adjective…

Hope this helps.
Good luck!

3

Hi Mlngvt,

This is a special construction where you are making relative comparisons and so the word to in your sentence is really a shortened version of equivalent to.

In your sentence below:

Kimono is to dress as kilt is to skirt."

this means the relationship of a kimono to a dress is equivalent to the relationship of a kilt to a skirt.

Let me give you another example:

Cheese is to milk as wine is to grapes - in other words cheese is made from milk and wine is made from grapes.

Alan

4

Oops… :oops:

5

Dear teacher,
Is it right if I say that" Water is to cup as coffee is to mug."
Thanks.