A is to B what C is to D

[Bushwhacker]

Can we say in English this kind of expression?

A is to B what C is to D

or rather

A is for B what C is for D?

Thanks

 

[sound shift]

Well, we sometimes say "A is to B as C is to D". I am not sure if this is a matter of personal preference or whether it depends on the context.

 

[Lis48]

I agree with soundshift. The usual pattern is:
A is to B as C is to D.
The use of what sounds strange to me.
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=306814

 

[Bushwhacker]

Very grateful to both of you

 

[franklinchow]

Can we say in English this kind of expression?

A is to B what C is to D

or rather

A is for B what C is for D?

Thanks

I have seen the "A is to B what C is to D" type in a GMAT SC book. I think it is acknowledged by ETS.

 

[EddieZumac]

I've always heard "A is to B like C is to D".

 

[cubaMania]

I have seen the "A is to B what C is to D" type in a GMAT SC book. I think it is acknowledged by ETS.

To my American ears "what" sounds totally wrong in this phrase.

I think the most common is "a is to b as c is to d". The use of "like" instead of "as" would be understandable and would sound OK, but I myself don't remember seeing it used that way.

 

[EddieZumac]

To my American ears "what" sounds totally wrong in this phrase.

I think the most common is "a is to b as c is to d". The use of "like" instead of "as" would be understandable and would sound OK, but I myself don't remember seeing it used that way.

You right, "as" is used more than "like".

 

[lovanda]

Okay..
Grammatically
A is to B as C is to D and
A is to B what C is to D are both correct.
While A is for B what C is for D and
A is to B Like C is to D are both wrong.
But in spoken English, people may use "like" in place of "as"..