🗣️ Singlish vs Standard English
While Singlish is part of our culture, the O-Level exam requires Standard Written English. Here are common Singlish patterns to avoid in your writing.
Tap each card to see the Standard English version!
Singlish
Can you don't do that?
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Singlish
I never go there before.
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Singlish
He very hardworking one.
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Singlish
This hawker centre food damn nice lah.
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Singlish
Why you so like that one?
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Singlish
Later then I tell you.
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"Can you don't do that?"
✓"Could you please stop doing that?"
"Can you don't" is a Singlish construction. Use a polite request form in Standard English.
"I never go there before."
✓"I have never been there."
"Never" in Singlish is used to mean "did not". In Standard English, use "have never" with the past participle for experiences.
"He very hardworking one."
✓"He is very hardworking."
The sentence lacks a linking verb ("is"). "One" at the end is a Singlish particle that should be removed.
"This hawker centre food damn nice lah."
✓"The food at this hawker centre is really delicious."
Replace colloquial intensifiers ("damn") and particles ("lah") with Standard English equivalents.
"Why you so like that one?"
✓"Why are you behaving like that?"
Singlish omits the auxiliary verb "are" and uses "so like that" as a fixed phrase.
"Later then I tell you."
✓"I will tell you later."
In Standard English, place the adverb "later" after the verb phrase and use the future tense.
"She always like that, never listen one."
✓"She is always like that; she never listens."
Singlish uses topic-comment structure. Standard English requires proper subject-verb agreement and sentence structure.
"You eat already or not?"
✓"Have you eaten?"
"Already or not" is a Singlish question particle. Use the present perfect question form in Standard English.
"I scared later kena scolded."
✓"I am afraid that I will be scolded."
"Scared" needs "am" before it. "Kena" is a Malay-influenced passive marker; use "will be" in Standard English.
"Don't play play, the exam very hard one."
✓"Do not fool around; the examination is very difficult."
Reduplication ("play play") is a Singlish feature. Use Standard English vocabulary and include linking verbs.
When Is Singlish Acceptable?
In narrative writing, you may use Singlish in dialogue to create authentic Singaporean characters. But your narration must remain in Standard English. Always signal Singlish dialogue with quotation marks.
Singlish Is Actually Smart!
Linguists say Singlish is a fully developed creole language with its own grammar rules — it's not "broken English"! But for O-Level, we need to show we can switch to Standard English. Think of it like code-switching — you speak differently with friends vs in an interview. Same skill!