Civil Service Exam (Professional) Analytical Ability — Figures of Speech (Tayutay)Cheat Sheet
A printable cheat sheet for Figures of Speech (Tayutay), built for Civil Service Exam (Professional) reviewers who want one go-to reference in the final stretch. Covers formulas, key definitions, common question types, and the Civil Service Commission (CSC)-specific twists you will see on Civil Service Exam (Professional) day.
Exam context
On the Civil Service Exam (Professional) 2026, the Analytical Ability subtest carries a "~25% weightage" weight in Civil Service Commission (CSC)'s pattern. Figures of Speech (Tayutay) lands at position 2nd out of 7 in the standard review order. Target score is 80%, and roughly 17 items come from Analytical Ability on a typical Civil Service Exam (Professional) paper.
Figures of Speech (Tayutay) - Cheat Sheet
Your last-minute revision companion for mastering Figures of Speech in Filipino and English - essential for CSE Professional exam success
Sections
Section Title
English Figures of Speech - Direct Comparisons
Important Facts
- Simile ALWAYS uses comparison words (like, as, similar to, compared to)
- Metaphor makes direct claims without comparison words
- Both compare two essentially different things that share one quality
Key Definitions
Term
Simile
Example
As brave as a lion
Definition
Indirect comparison using 'like' or 'as' between two unlike things
Term
Metaphor
Example
This house is a zoo
Definition
Direct comparison without using 'like' or 'as'
Diagrams To Know
- Comparison structure diagrams showing simile vs metaphor patterns
Section Title
English Figures of Speech - Human Qualities
Important Facts
- Personification makes objects act like humans (emotions, actions, thoughts)
- Apostrophe uses direct address with 'O' or exclamation
- Both create emotional connection with non-human subjects
Key Definitions
Term
Personification
Example
The flowers nodded their heads cheerfully
Definition
Giving human qualities to non-human objects or ideas
Term
Apostrophe
Example
Death, be not proud
Definition
Direct address to someone absent, dead, or inanimate
Diagrams To Know
- Human quality transfer diagrams
Section Title
English Figures of Speech - Exaggeration & Contradiction
Important Facts
- Hyperbole is obvious exaggeration, not meant to be taken literally
- Oxymoron combines opposite words in same phrase
- Paradox seems contradictory but reveals deeper truth
Key Definitions
Term
Hyperbole
Example
My backpack weighs a ton
Definition
Intentional exaggeration for emphasis or comic effect
Term
Oxymoron
Example
Sweet sorrow
Definition
Contradictory words paired together for complex meaning
Term
Paradox
Example
This is the beginning of the end
Definition
Statement that appears to contradict itself
Section Title
English Figures of Speech - Sound & Substitution
Important Facts
- Onomatopoeia creates auditory imagery
- Synecdoche uses part-whole relationship
- Metonymy uses association relationship
- Euphemism softens harsh realities
Key Definitions
Term
Onomatopoeia
Example
The thunder went bang
Definition
Words that imitate the sound they represent
Term
Synecdoche
Example
Nice wheels (car)
Definition
Part represents whole or whole represents part
Term
Metonymy
Example
The White House announced (President announced)
Definition
Substituting closely associated term for actual thing
Term
Euphemism
Example
Passed away (died)
Definition
Mild term substituting harsh or offensive term
Section Title
Filipino Tayutay - Paghahambing (Comparison)
Important Facts
- Pagtutulad uses comparison words (parang, tulad ng, gaya ng)
- Metafora directly assigns qualities without comparison words
- Pahambing uses specific prefixes (sim-, mag-, gaga-)
Key Definitions
Term
Simile/Pagtutulad
Example
Ang buhay ay parang gulong
Definition
Paghahambing gamit ang wangis, parang, tulad ng, gaya ng
Term
Metafora/Pagwawangis
Example
Kayod kalabaw si tatay
Definition
Direktang paghahambing, walang salitang pangtulad
Term
Pahambing
Example
Simputi ng puting rosas
Definition
Paghahambing gamit ang sim-, mag-, gaga-
Diagrams To Know
- Tayutay classification tree showing comparison types
Section Title
Filipino Tayutay - Pagbibigay ng Katangian
Important Facts
- Padiwantao gives human emotions/actions to non-living things
- Pagmamalabis exaggerates for dramatic effect
- Pangitain presents imagination as reality
Key Definitions
Term
Padiwantao/Personification
Example
Sumasayaw ang mga dahon
Definition
Paglipat ng katangian ng tao sa walang buhay
Term
Pagmamalabis/Hyperbole
Example
Dadanak ang dugo
Definition
Sobrang paglalarawan na lampas sa katotohanan
Term
Pangitain/Vision
Example
Tayo na pangarap at galain ang di nakikitang pook
Definition
Pagsasalita sa nilalaman ng isip na parang totoo
Section Title
Filipino Tayutay - Iba pang Uri
Important Facts
- Panawagan addresses objects as if they were people
- Eupemismo replaces harsh words with gentler ones
- Balintunay says opposite of what is meant
- Pagpapalit-saklaw uses part to represent whole
Key Definitions
Term
Apostrope/Panawagan
Example
O tukso! layuan mo ako
Definition
Pagtawag sa bagay na parang tao, gumagamit ng 'O!'
Term
Eupemismo
Example
Sumakabilang buhay (namatay)
Definition
Pampalubag loob na salita para sa matalas na salita
Term
Balintunay/Irony
Example
Ang sarap ng sabaw, lasang tubig!
Definition
Kahulugan ay kabaligtaran ng sinasabi
Term
Pagpapalit-saklaw/Synecdoche
Example
Libu-libong kaluluwa (tao)
Definition
Bahagi bilang katapat ng kabuuan
Must Remember
- SIMILE always uses comparison words (like, as, parang, tulad ng) - METAPHOR never does
- PERSONIFICATION gives human qualities to non-human things
- HYPERBOLE is obvious exaggeration for effect, not literal truth
- OXYMORON combines contradictory terms in same phrase
- SYNECDOCHE uses part for whole or whole for part
- EUPHEMISM softens harsh or offensive language
- APOSTROPHE directly addresses absent/inanimate as if present/alive
- Filipino METAFORA = English METAPHOR (direct comparison)
- BALINTUNAY/IRONY says opposite of intended meaning
- PADIWANTAO = PERSONIFICATION in Filipino
Last Minute Tips
- Look for comparison words (like, as, parang) to identify similes quickly
- If objects are doing human things (crying, dancing, singing), it's personification
- Extreme statements that seem impossible are usually hyperbole
- When part of something represents the whole thing, think synecdoche
- If meaning seems opposite to what's literally said, consider irony
Comparison Tables
Rows
Values
- Uses like, as, parang, tulad ng
- No comparison words
Property
Comparison words
Values
- Indirect comparison
- Direct comparison
Property
Directness
Values
- A is like B
- A is B
Property
Structure
Values
- Brave as a lion
- He is a lion
Property
Example (English)
Values
- Parang gulong ang buhay
- Kayod kalabaw si tatay
Property
Example (Filipino)
Columns
- Feature
- Simile/Pagtutulad
- Metaphor/Metafora
Table Title
Simile vs Metaphor (English & Filipino)
Rows
Values
- Emotions
- Objects feel happy/sad
- Flowers nodded cheerfully
Property
Human emotions
Values
- Actions
- Objects perform human acts
- Wind whispered secrets
Property
Human actions
Values
- Speech
- Objects talk/communicate
- Trees told stories
Property
Human speech
Columns
- Type
- Characteristic
- Example
Table Title
Personification Types
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