AFPSAT Verbal Ability — Parts of SpeechCheat Sheet
A printable cheat sheet for Parts of Speech, built for AFPSAT reviewers who want one go-to reference in the final stretch. Covers formulas, key definitions, common question types, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines-specific twists you will see on AFPSAT day.
Exam context
On the AFPSAT 2026, the Verbal Ability subtest carries a "Core" weight in Armed Forces of the Philippines's pattern. Parts of Speech lands at position 1st out of 7 in the standard review order. Target score is AFP-set percentile, and roughly a meaningful share of items come from Verbal Ability on a typical AFPSAT paper.
Parts of Speech - Cheat sheet
Your last-minute revision companion for mastering all eight parts of speech in English grammar - essential for CSE and all major Philippine exams
Sections
Formulas
Formula
Singular noun + 's = Possessive
Meaning
Shows ownership by one person/thing
Watch Out
Don't confuse with plural - it's owner's book, not owners' book for one owner
When To Use
When showing that something belongs to one entity
Formula
Plural noun ending in s + ' = Possessive
Meaning
Shows ownership by multiple persons/things
Watch Out
Students' books (many students), not student's books
When To Use
When showing that something belongs to multiple entities
Section Title
NOUNS
Important Facts
- Mass nouns cannot be counted directly - use counters (two glasses of water)
- Collective nouns take singular verbs when acting as one unit
- Proper nouns don't use articles except in special cases (The Philippines)
- Gender in English is natural, not grammatical
- Inanimate objects use 'of' phrase for possession (roof of the house)
Key Definitions
Term
Noun
Example
lawyer, Manila, table, dog, graduation, freedom
Definition
Word that names a person, place, thing, animal, event, or idea
Term
Proper Noun
Example
Jose Rizal, Philippines, Christmas, SM Mall
Definition
Specific name, always capitalized
Term
Common Noun
Example
doctor, city, book, holiday
Definition
General name, not capitalized
Term
Collective Noun
Example
team, family, crowd, class
Definition
Names a group as one unit
Term
Abstract Noun
Example
love, honesty, freedom, happiness
Definition
Names ideas, emotions, qualities that cannot be touched
Term
Concrete Noun
Example
chair, flower, music, perfume
Definition
Names things that can be perceived by the senses
Diagrams To Know
- Noun classification tree
- Cases of nouns diagram
Formulas
Formula
Pronoun must agree with antecedent in gender, number, person
Meaning
The pronoun matches the noun it replaces
Watch Out
Each student should bring his or her book (not their book)
When To Use
Every time you use a pronoun
Section Title
PRONOUNS
Important Facts
- Nominative case: subject position (I, he, she, we, they)
- Objective case: object position (me, him, her, us, them)
- Possessive case: shows ownership (my/mine, his, her/hers, our/ours, their/theirs)
- Singular indefinite pronouns: each, every, someone, anyone, no one
- Plural indefinite pronouns: few, many, several, both
Key Definitions
Term
Personal Pronoun
Example
Maria went to school. She studied hard.
Definition
Replaces specific persons (I, you, he, she, it, we, they)
Term
Demonstrative Pronoun
Example
This is mine. Those are expensive.
Definition
Points to specific things (this, that, these, those)
Term
Indefinite Pronoun
Example
Someone called. Everyone is here.
Definition
Refers to non-specific persons or things
Term
Reflexive Pronoun
Example
I hurt myself. She taught herself.
Definition
Refers back to the subject (myself, yourself, himself)
Term
Intensive Pronoun
Example
I myself saw it. The president himself came.
Definition
Emphasizes the subject (same forms as reflexive)
Diagrams To Know
- Personal pronoun case chart
- Reflexive vs intensive pronoun usage
Formulas
Formula
has/have + past participle = Present Perfect
Meaning
Action completed with present relevance
Watch Out
Use 'have' with plural subjects, 'has' with singular
When To Use
Recent completion or ongoing relevance
Formula
had + past participle = Past Perfect
Meaning
Action completed before another past action
Watch Out
First action = past perfect, second action = simple past
When To Use
When showing sequence of past events
Formula
will/shall + have + past participle = Future Perfect
Meaning
Action that will be completed before a future time
Watch Out
Don't confuse with simple future tense
When To Use
Future completion before another future event
Section Title
VERBS
Important Facts
- Present tense: habitual, permanent, or ongoing actions
- Past tense: completed actions in the past
- Future tense: will/shall + base form OR am/is/are going to
- Do/does for present questions and negatives (base form follows)
- Did for past questions and negatives (base form follows)
Key Definitions
Term
Action Verb
Example
run, write, think, celebrate
Definition
Shows what the subject does
Term
Linking Verb
Example
She is beautiful. He became a doctor.
Definition
Connects subject to complement (am, is, are, seem, become)
Term
Helping Verb
Example
I do not understand. She has finished.
Definition
Assists main verb (do, does, did, has, have, had)
Term
Modal Verb
Example
I can swim. You must study.
Definition
Expresses possibility, necessity, ability (can, may, must, should)
Term
Regular Verb
Example
walk → walked, play → played
Definition
Forms past tense by adding -ed
Term
Irregular Verb
Example
go → went, eat → ate, see → saw
Definition
Forms past tense differently
Diagrams To Know
- Verb tenses timeline
- Regular vs irregular verb patterns
Formulas
Formula
Positive → Comparative → Superlative
Meaning
Three degrees of comparison
Watch Out
Use 'the' before superlatives (the best, the most beautiful)
When To Use
Comparing qualities of nouns
Section Title
ADJECTIVES
Important Facts
- Adjectives usually come before the noun they modify
- One syllable: add -er/-est (tall, taller, tallest)
- Two+ syllables: use more/most (beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful)
- Irregular comparisons: good-better-best, bad-worse-worst
- Multiple adjectives follow opinion-size-age-shape-color-origin-material order
Key Definitions
Term
Adjective
Example
The red car is fast and expensive.
Definition
Modifies or describes nouns and pronouns
Term
Proper Adjective
Example
Filipino culture, American food, Asian countries
Definition
Formed from proper nouns, capitalized
Term
Compound Adjective
Example
well-known, twenty-year-old, up-to-date
Definition
Made of multiple words, often hyphenated
Term
Predicate Adjective
Example
The flower smells sweet. She seems happy.
Definition
Follows linking verb, describes subject
Diagrams To Know
- Adjective placement rules
- Degrees of comparison chart
Formulas
Formula
Adjective + -ly = Adverb
Meaning
Most adverbs formed by adding -ly to adjectives
Watch Out
Some adjectives already end in -ly (lovely, friendly)
When To Use
Creating manner adverbs
Section Title
ADVERBS
Important Facts
- Adverbs of frequency go before main verb but after 'be' verbs
- Time adverbs can go at beginning or end of sentence
- Place adverbs usually go at the end
- Don't use adverbs with linking verbs - use adjectives
- Well = adverb, Good = adjective
Key Definitions
Term
Adverb
Example
She sings beautifully. He is very tall. They run quite fast.
Definition
Modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs
Term
Adverb of Manner
Example
carefully, quickly, gracefully, well
Definition
Tells how something is done
Term
Adverb of Time
Example
yesterday, soon, always, never
Definition
Tells when something happens
Term
Adverb of Place
Example
here, there, everywhere, nearby
Definition
Tells where something happens
Term
Adverb of Degree
Example
very, quite, extremely, rather
Definition
Tells to what extent
Diagrams To Know
- Adverb placement rules
- Types of adverbs classification
Formulas
Formula
Preposition + Object = Prepositional Phrase
Meaning
Shows relationship between words
Watch Out
Object must be in objective case (between you and me, not I)
When To Use
Expressing location, time, direction, manner
Section Title
PREPOSITIONS
Important Facts
- AT: specific times and addresses
- ON: days, dates, surfaces
- IN: months, years, enclosed spaces
- Never end a sentence with a preposition in formal writing
- Common error: different FROM (not different THAN)
Key Definitions
Term
Preposition
Example
in the house, on Monday, with friends
Definition
Shows relationship between noun/pronoun and another word
Term
Preposition of Time
Example
at 3 PM, on Monday, in January
Definition
Shows when (at, on, in, during, before, after)
Term
Preposition of Place
Example
in Manila, on the table, at school
Definition
Shows where (in, on, at, under, over, beside)
Term
Preposition of Direction
Example
to the mall, from home, through the park
Definition
Shows movement (to, from, through, across)
Diagrams To Know
- Preposition usage timeline
- Spatial prepositions diagram
Formulas
Formula
FANBOYS = For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
Meaning
Coordinating conjunctions that join equal elements
Watch Out
Use comma before conjunction when joining independent clauses
When To Use
Connecting words, phrases, or independent clauses
Section Title
CONJUNCTIONS
Important Facts
- FOR: explains reason or purpose
- SO: shows result or consequence
- YET: similar to 'but' but stronger contrast
- Subordinating conjunctions create sentence fragments if used alone
- Correlative conjunctions require parallel structure
Key Definitions
Term
Coordinating Conjunction
Example
bread and butter, rich but kind
Definition
Joins equal grammatical elements (FANBOYS)
Term
Subordinating Conjunction
Example
I left because I was tired.
Definition
Introduces dependent clauses (because, when, if, although)
Term
Correlative Conjunction
Example
Either study or fail the exam.
Definition
Work in pairs (either...or, both...and, not only...but also)
Diagrams To Know
- FANBOYS memory aid
- Conjunction types classification
Section Title
INTERJECTIONS
Important Facts
- Use exclamation point for strong emotion
- Use comma for mild emotion
- Can stand alone as complete thought
- Most common: Oh, Ah, Hey, Wow, Alas, Hurray
- Not grammatically related to rest of sentence
Key Definitions
Term
Interjection
Example
Oh! Alas! Wow! Hey! Ouch!
Definition
Expresses strong emotion, not grammatically connected to sentence
Diagrams To Know
- Interjection punctuation rules
Must Remember
- FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So (coordinating conjunctions)
- Pronoun-antecedent agreement: Each student brought his or her book (not their)
- Subject-verb agreement with collective nouns: The team IS playing well
- Possessive rules: student's (one), students' (many), children's (irregular plural)
- Perfect tenses: has/have + past participle, had + past participle, will have + past participle
- Adjective vs adverb: She IS beautiful (adjective), She sings beautifully (adverb)
- Preposition time rules: AT specific times, ON days/dates, IN months/years
- Articles: A before consonant sounds, AN before vowel sounds, THE for specific nouns
- Reflexive pronouns need action between subject and pronoun: I gave myself time
- Linking verbs take adjectives, not adverbs: The food tastes good (not goodly)
Last Minute Tips
- For pronoun case questions: try substituting with I/me - whichever sounds right is correct
- Count syllables for adjective comparison: 1 syllable = -er/-est, 2+ syllables = more/most
- Remember irregular verb triplets: go-went-gone, see-saw-seen, eat-ate-eaten
- FANBOYS mnemonic helps identify coordinating conjunctions quickly
- When in doubt about adverb placement, put manner adverbs at the end of the sentence
Comparison Tables
Rows
Values
- I
- me
- my/mine
Property
I
Values
- you
- you
- your/yours
Property
You
Values
- he
- him
- his
Property
He
Values
- she
- her
- her/hers
Property
She
Values
- we
- us
- our/ours
Property
We
Values
- they
- them
- their/theirs
Property
They
Columns
- Nominative
- Objective
- Possessive
Table Title
Personal Pronoun Cases
Rows
Values
- nouns/pronouns
- verbs/adjectives/adverbs
Property
Modifies
Values
- before noun or after linking verb
- various positions
Property
Position
Values
- base form
- usually add -ly
Property
Formation
Values
- She is careful
- She drives carefully
Property
Example
Values
- She looks beautiful
- NOT: She looks beautifully
Property
With linking verbs
Columns
- Adjective
- Adverb
Table Title
Adjective vs Adverb Usage
Rows
Values
- specific times (at 3 PM)
- days/dates (on Monday)
- months/years (in 2024)
Property
Time
Values
- specific points (at school)
- surfaces (on the table)
- enclosed spaces (in the room)
Property
Place
Values
- exact address (at 123 Main St)
- street names (on Main Street)
- cities/countries (in Manila)
Property
Address
Columns
- AT
- ON
- IN
Table Title
Prepositions: AT vs ON vs IN
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