also

Adding a Matching Person or Idea

Level 3

Also can occur at the end of a clause in Singlish: She coming also. Which person or idea is being added depends on context and focus, so also does not mechanically mean every word before it.

How It Works

Also adds something to a relevant earlier proposition. In Singlish it can appear at the end: She coming also. The added alternative may concern the person, action or another focused part of the message.

Read the previous turn. If Arun is coming, She coming also adds her to the people coming. In another context, a sentence may add an activity rather than a person. Also is not a requirement to treat every part of the clause as new information. Its local concessive use in a conditional is a separate construction, so not every also means ordinary addition.

Examples (4)

  1. Arun coming. Mei coming also.

    Arun is coming, and Mei is coming too.

  2. I bought bread. I bought milk also.

    I bought bread and also bought milk.

  3. This bag heavy also.

    This bag is heavy too, when another heavy item has been mentioned.

  4. She can read Malay also.

    She can also read Malay, in addition to a previously mentioned language.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

alsoLevel 3Adding a Matching Person or Idea

Learn This First

Identify the proposition before determining what also adds to an earlier statement.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.