English VS
Singlish
“arr..”
English
vs
Singlish
When returning a call …
Singlish: Hello, who call ah?
English: Hello, this is Miss Tan.
Did you call me just now?
When someone is
blocking your
way…
Singlish: Excuse! Excuse!
English: Excuse me.
When unsure of
something…
Singlish: Got meh!
English: I don’t remember you
returning my eraser
When you want to tell the
teacher that you have
finished your work…
Singlish: Cher, finish!
English: Teacher, I have finished
my work.
When asking to go the
washroom…
Singlish: Cher, can go toilet?
English: Teacher, may I go to
the washroom, please?
When you want to tell
that you can do
something…
Singlish: Can, can.
English: Yes, I can.
Using ‘May’
vs
Using ‘Can’
Using ‘May’
•To ask for approval or permission
before carrying out something
Example:
“May I sit here?”
“ May I go to the toilet, please?”
Using ‘Can’
•To show that you can do or perform
something
Example:
“I can jump and run.”
“ I can juggle three balls at the same time.”
The correct way of
speaking:
When going to the washroom:
a) Cher, go toilet?
b) Teacher, may I go to the
toilet, please?
c) Teacher, can I go to the
toilet, please?
When you had finished your
work:
a)
a) Teacher,
Teacher, I’ve completed my work.
work.
b) Cher, finish!
c) I finish, cher!
Speak well,
to be understood!