Common English Mistakes Made by Singlish Speakers
Singlish is a fluent, rule-governed way of speaking, not broken English. But several of its everyday features carry over into writing and formal speech, where Standard English expects something different.
Why these mistakes happen
Singapore Colloquial English, better known as Singlish, is not a simplified or incorrect form of English. It is a distinct variety shaped by Malay, Hokkien, Cantonese, and Tamil, with its own consistent grammar. The issue is not fluency: most Singlish speakers already speak and understand English at a high level.
The mistakes below happen because features that work perfectly well in Singlish, like dropping "to be," using "already" to mark past action, or ending a sentence with "lah," don't belong in Standard written or formal English. Recognising which features are Singlish-specific is the key to switching smoothly between the two, depending on the situation.
1 Missing "to be"
In Singlish, the verb "to be" is often dropped before adjectives, and sometimes before nouns, because the meaning is already clear from context. Standard English always requires it.
This one very nice.
This one is very nice.
She so tired today.
She is so tired today.
Where "to be" is needed
| Structure | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject + adjective | A form of "be" always links them | The food is spicy, not "the food spicy." |
| Subject + noun | A form of "be" always links them | He is a teacher, not "he teacher." |
| Progressive actions | "Be" + verb-ing | I am working, not "I working." |
Tip: If you can insert "is / am / are / was / were" and the sentence still makes sense, it almost always belongs there in formal or written English.
2 Discourse particles — lah, leh, lor, meh
Particles like "lah," "leh," "lor," and "meh" carry real meaning in spoken Singlish, softening a statement, expressing certainty, or showing mild surprise. They have no place in Standard written English, formal emails, or academic writing.
The report is ready lah.
The report is ready.
Cannot come today leh.
I'm afraid I can't come today.
Tip: Particles are not "wrong" — they belong to spoken Singlish and mark it as a distinct, valid variety. The skill is code-switching: know that formal emails, essays, reports, and exams call for Standard English with no particles at all.
3 Using "already" instead of past tense
In Singlish, "already" often does the job of marking a completed action, similar to the aspect marker le (了) in Chinese. In Standard English, the verb itself must still change to show past or perfect tense, with or without "already."
I eat already.
I have already eaten.
She finish her homework already.
She has already finished her homework.
The rule
"Already" is a useful adverb in Standard English too, but it works alongside a correctly tensed verb, not in place of one. Use the present perfect (have/has + past participle) or past simple, and let "already" add emphasis on top.
Common error: Writing "I finish already" in an email or exam answer instead of "I have already finished" or simply "I finished." The base verb form never marks past time on its own.
4 "Can" as a standalone answer
In Singlish, "can" works as a complete answer on its own, and "can or not?" is a normal way to ask permission or check feasibility. In Standard English, modal verbs like "can" almost always need a subject and, in full sentences, a main verb too.
"Can you send the file today?" — "Can."
"Can you send the file today?" — "Yes, I can."
Can or not, this plan?
Is this plan feasible?
Tip: In formal writing or speech, always complete the modal verb pattern: subject + can/can't + verb. "Can" alone, or "can or not," reads as spoken Singlish rather than Standard English.
5 "Got" for have / there is
Singlish uses "got" as an all-purpose verb covering "have," "there is/are," and "exist." Standard English keeps these separate, and "got" alone is not a complete verb in a formal sentence.
I got a pen.
I have a pen.
Got a shop near here.
There is a shop near here.
Choosing the right verb
| Meaning | Standard English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | have / has | I have two siblings. |
| Existence | there is / there are | There is a café on this street. |
| Past possession | had | We had extra tickets. |
Tip: "Have got" (as in "I've got a pen") is actually standard in British English as an informal alternative to "have." The Singlish pattern to watch for is "got" used completely on its own, without "have" or "there is" attached.
6 Plural marking
Singlish often drops the plural -s when a quantity word already shows there's more than one, since the number seems to make the plural marker redundant. Standard English still requires it.
We hired three new staff member.
We hired three new staff members.
Please give me two advice.
Please give me two pieces of advice.
Tip: Countable nouns always take -s/-es in the plural, no matter how obvious the number already is. Uncountable nouns like advice, furniture, and equipment never take a plural form at all — use a piece of or an item of instead.
7 Dropped subjects and topic-first sentences
Singlish is topic-prominent: the topic of the sentence can come first, and the subject pronoun can be dropped when it's clear from context, following patterns from Malay and Chinese. Standard English needs an explicit subject in every clause.
Very hot today.
It's very hot today.
This book, already read.
I've already read this book.
Rule: Every English clause needs a subject, even a "dummy" one. For weather, time, and general statements, use it: It is raining. It is 3 o'clock.
8 The universal tag "is it?"
Singlish uses "is it?" as a one-size-fits-all tag added to the end of almost any statement to check agreement. Standard English builds a specific tag that matches the verb and subject of the main clause.
You're coming to the meeting, is it?
You're coming to the meeting, aren't you?
She finished the report, is it?
She finished the report, didn't she?
Building a matching tag
| Main clause | Tag | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive + "be" | negative "be" + subject | It's ready, isn't it? |
| Positive + other verb | don't/doesn't/didn't + subject | He likes it, doesn't he? |
| Negative statement | positive auxiliary + subject | They aren't coming, are they? |
Summary — eight areas to focus on
| # | Area | Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missing "to be" | A form of "be" links a subject to an adjective, noun, or -ing verb |
| 2 | Discourse particles | Lah, leh, lor, and meh stay out of formal writing |
| 3 | "Already" as tense marker | Use a correctly tensed verb; "already" adds emphasis, it doesn't replace tense |
| 4 | Standalone "can" | Complete the modal pattern: subject + can/can't + verb |
| 5 | "Got" for have/there is | Use "have" for possession and "there is/are" for existence |
| 6 | Plural marking | Add -s/-es to countable nouns even after a number |
| 7 | Dropped subjects | Every clause needs an explicit subject, including dummy "it" |
| 8 | Tag questions | Match the tag to the main verb instead of using "is it?" for everything |