AFPSAT Verbal Ability — Phrasal VerbsCheat Sheet
Cheat sheet for AFPSAT Verbal Ability — Phrasal Verbs. Compact, printable, and organised around the concepts Armed Forces of the Philippines tests most frequently in the AFPSAT 2026. Perfect for the week before exam day.
Exam context
On the AFPSAT 2026, the Verbal Ability subtest carries a "Core" weight in Armed Forces of the Philippines's pattern. Phrasal Verbs lands at position 6th 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.
Phrasal Verbs - Cheat sheet
Your last-minute revision companion for mastering phrasal verbs in the Civil Service Examination. Essential definitions, common patterns, and exam-critical examples.
Sections
Section Title
Core Concept
Important Facts
- Most phrasal verbs have multiple meanings depending on context
- Context clues are essential for determining correct meaning
- Same phrasal verb can have completely different meanings in different sentences
- Cannot translate word-for-word to understand meaning
Key Definitions
Term
Phrasal Verb
Example
turn around (change direction) vs turn around (change of fate)
Definition
A verb combined with an adverb, preposition, or both, creating idiomatic meanings that cannot be deduced from individual words
Term
Idiomatic Meaning
Example
break up (end relationship) not literally breaking something up
Definition
Non-literal meaning that differs from the sum of its parts
Section Title
BEAR Phrasal Verbs
Important Facts
- bear on = relates to/affects
- bear up = stay strong/endure
- bear with = be patient
- bear witness to = testify/prove
Key Definitions
Term
bear on
Example
Your speech does not bear on the current issue
Definition
to relate to or affect something
Term
bear up
Example
Filipinos can easily bear up despite adversity
Definition
to remain strong despite difficulties
Term
bear with
Example
Please bear with his slow driving
Definition
to be patient with someone
Term
bear witness to
Example
The documents bear witness to his innocence
Definition
to testify or give evidence about something
Section Title
BREAK Phrasal Verbs
Important Facts
- break into = enter illegally
- break off = separate/detach
- break out = start suddenly (epidemic/war)
- break up = stop fight/end relationship
- break down = malfunction/collapse
Key Definitions
Term
break into
Example
Thieves broke into the millionaire's house
Definition
to enter forcibly or illegally
Term
break off
Example
He broke off a piece of bread
Definition
to separate a piece from something
Term
break out
Example
A dengue outbreak broke out in Luzon
Definition
to start suddenly (disease, war, fire)
Term
break up
Example
Police broke up the fight between drunk men
Definition
to stop a fight or end a relationship
Term
break down
Example
The car broke down on the highway
Definition
to stop working or collapse emotionally
Section Title
BRING Phrasal Verbs
Important Facts
- bring on = cause to happen
- bring out = reveal/show
- bring up = mention topic OR raise children
- bring off = accomplish successfully
Key Definitions
Term
bring on
Example
Poor hygiene can bring on numerous diseases
Definition
to cause something to happen
Term
bring out
Example
Practice brings out a person's pure potential
Definition
to reveal or show clearly
Term
bring up
Example
You should bring up your suggestion to the panel
Definition
to mention a topic or raise children
Term
bring off
Example
He managed to bring off the impossible task
Definition
to succeed in doing something difficult
Section Title
CALL Phrasal Verbs
Important Facts
- call for = demand/require
- call in = summon/request presence
- call off = cancel
- call on = visit/ask to speak
- call out = shout/challenge
Key Definitions
Term
call for
Example
Heinous crimes call for punishment
Definition
to demand or require
Term
call in
Example
You should call in a doctor for emergencies
Definition
to summon or request someone's presence
Term
call off
Example
I called off the meeting due to emergency
Definition
to cancel something
Term
call on
Example
The teacher called on the student to answer
Definition
to visit or ask someone to speak
Term
call out
Example
We need to call out students' attention
Definition
to shout loudly or challenge someone
Section Title
High-Frequency Exam Phrasal Verbs
Important Facts
- carry on = continue
- carry out = execute/perform
- come up = occur/happen
- cope with = deal with successfully
- cut down = reduce/fell trees
- give up = surrender/quit
Key Definitions
Term
carry on
Example
They carried on with their tasks despite distractions
Definition
to continue doing something
Term
carry out
Example
Police must carry out the laws
Definition
to perform or execute a task
Term
come up
Example
Civil Service Exam comes up biannually
Definition
to occur or happen (events)
Term
cope with
Example
You need to cope with life's problems
Definition
to deal with difficulties successfully
Term
cut down
Example
No more trees shall be cut down
Definition
to reduce in number or to fell trees
Term
give up
Example
Never give up in times of difficulties
Definition
to surrender or stop trying
Must Remember
- Phrasal verbs have idiomatic meanings - context determines meaning
- Same phrasal verb can have multiple completely different meanings
- bear up = endure, bear on = relate to, bear with = be patient
- break into = enter illegally, break out = start suddenly, break up = stop/end
- bring on = cause, bring out = reveal, bring up = mention/raise
- call for = require, call off = cancel, call out = shout/challenge
- carry on = continue, carry out = execute/perform
- come up = occur/happen, cope with = deal with successfully
- give up = surrender/quit, cut down = reduce/fell
- Context clues are essential for determining correct meaning in CSE exam
Last Minute Tips
- Read the entire sentence - context determines which meaning applies
- Look for clue words around the phrasal verb (emergency, meeting, fight, etc.)
- Eliminate obviously wrong answers first - many options won't fit the context
- Practice with the exact phrasal verbs from CSE past exams - they repeat frequently
- Remember: if it sounds too literal, it's probably wrong - phrasal verbs are idiomatic
Comparison Tables
Rows
Values
- change direction
- change of fate
- rotate/pivot
Property
turn around
Values
- remove clothing
- depart/leave
- airplane departure
Property
take off
Values
- mention a topic
- raise children
- vomit
Property
bring up
Values
- support someone
- make copies
- move backward
Property
back up
Values
- end relationship
- stop a fight
- disintegrate
Property
break up
Columns
- Phrasal Verb
- Meaning 1
- Meaning 2
- Meaning 3
Table Title
Multiple Meanings of Common Phrasal Verbs
Rows
Values
- break up, make up, get along
- end, reconcile, be friendly
Property
Relationships
Values
- carry out, call off, bring up
- execute, cancel, mention
Property
Business/Work
Values
- turn around, back up, pull over
- change direction, reverse, stop aside
Property
Movement
Values
- cope with, give up, work out
- handle, quit, solve
Property
Problems
Columns
- Context
- Common Phrasal Verbs
- Typical Meaning
Table Title
Phrasal Verbs by Context
Previous chapter
Vocabulary — Modals, Affixes, Context Clues & Word Usage
Next chapter
Reading Comprehension
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