PART 1: St¿ructure of a Good Composition

A Primary 4 composition usually follows a 4-paragraph structure. This structure helps keep
your story clear and easy to follow.

Paragraph 1: Introduction

What to include:

● When did the story happen? (Time)

● Where did the story happen? (Place)
● Who is the main character?
● Set the mood or feeling of the story.

Example:

It was a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon. The sky was clear, and birds were
chirping cheerfully. My best friend, Shawn, and I decided to go to the park near our
house to play soccer. We were excited because it had been raining all week.

Tips:

● Try to use sensory details: What did you see, hear, or feel?
● Avoid starting every story with “One day…” – it’s too plain.
● Try using weather or feelings to set the scene.

Why is a well-written introduction important?

● It will pique the interest of the reader (teacher) and draw her into the story

In what ways can a writer begin a story?

● Set the scene

● Describe the setting (as seen in the composition below)

● Introduce the main character

Paragraph 2: Build-Up

What to include:

● What were the characters doing?

● How did the event or problem start?
● Use descriptions and some dialogue to show interactions.

Example:

We took turns kicking the ball. Laughter filled the air as we tried to score goals.
Suddenly, the ball flew off the field and rolled near the bushes.

"I’ll go get it!" I said, running toward the bushes.

As I bent down to pick the ball, I heard a strange rustling sound.

Tips:

● Use paragraphs to separate action and dialogue.

● Use interesting verbs like rushed, grabbed, hurried, instead of simple ones like went.

Paragraph 3: Climax

What to include:

● This is the most exciting or scary part of your story.

● Describe clearly what went wrong.
● Use action words and strong emotion.
● Include dialogue to show what the characters are feeling.
● Dilemma → need to make it clear in your story (2 actions, should i…or do…)

Example:

I froze in fear. A huge dog with sharp teeth jumped out from the bushes and barked
loudly.

"Don’t move!" Shawn shouted from behind me.

My heart pounded like a drum. I slowly stepped backwards, trying not to make
sudden movements. The dog growled and stepped closer.
Tips:

● Add similes to show emotions: My heart was beating like a drum.

● Use short sentences for dramatic effect.
● Dialogue helps break the action and shows reactions.

→ very important to not fill the paragraphs with dialogues, only the necessary ones!

Paragraph 4: Resolution

What to include:

● How was the problem solved?

● How did the characters feel afterward?
● What did the main character learn?

Example:

Just as I thought the dog would pounce on me, a man ran over and grabbed its
leash.

"I’m so sorry! He ran off without me," the man said, panting.

Shawn and I let out a sigh of relief. After that scary experience, we decided to head
home. I learnt to always be careful in the park and never run into bushes alone.

Tips:

● Always end your story with a lesson or reflection. → e.g proverb

● Don’t just end suddenly — wrap it up properly.

PART 2: Common Grammar Mistakes and How to Fix

Them
Mistake Type Example (Wrong) Correction (Right) Tip

Subject-Verb He play soccer. He plays soccer. Use -s for he/she/it

Agreement

Verb Tense I eat lunch I ate lunch yesterday. Use past tense in
yesterday. stories
Plurals There were many There were many Some plurals are
child. children. irregular

Capitalisation i went to school. I went to school. Always capitalise I

Sentence Because I was I ran away because I was Sentences must be

Fragments scared. scared. complete

Wrong Pronouns Me saw him. I saw him. Use “I” when it's the
subject

PART 3: Good Phrases to Use in Your Composition

Emotions – Happy

● I was over the moon.

● A wide grin spread across my face.
● My heart was bursting with joy.

Emotions – Fear/Scared

● My legs turned to jelly.

● My heart was in my mouth.
● I froze on the spot.

Emotions – Sadness

● Tears welled up in my eyes.

● My heart sank.
● I felt a lump in my throat.

Action Verbs

● dashed, sprinted, tiptoed, shouted, grabbed, escaped, trembled, collapsed

To Show Time

● A few minutes later,

● Suddenly,
● Without warning,
● Before I knew it,
● All of a sudden,
To Show Thought

● I wondered if I had made a mistake.

● What should I do now? I thought.
● I wished I could disappear into thin air.

Final Tips for Writing Better Compositions

1. Plan before you write: Spend 5–10 minutes planning the four parts of your story.
2. Use past tense for most compositions.
3. Avoid repeating words like “went”, “said”, “nice” – use stronger verbs and adjectives.
4. Check your grammar: Read your story out loud to hear mistakes.
5. Add emotions and reflections to show what you learnt.

PART 4: Sample Compositions (Credits: Thinking

Factory)

● Main tips to get the top band: students must have fully relevant and highly interesting
ideas which are thoroughly developed in Content.
They should also have almost no errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Ideas
should also be well-organised and students need to use wide and appropriate
vocabulary in Language & Organisation.

● The three pictures given were children picking up litter at a park/ a box of
donations / an injured puppy.
 Scene
describes
after school

E)
33
Ring! The shrill ringing of the school bell reverberated through the silent hallway.
Students ran out of the classroom like prisoners who had been set free. Ella
bade goodbye to her classmates and sprinted like a gazelle to the gate.I
* As Ella skipped past a bush in the park, she heard the leaves
rustling. Overwhelmed with curiosity, she crept behind the bush and saw an
abandoned puppy stuck in the bush! Should I help the puppy or should I turn a
blind eye? If I turn a blind eye, this puppy could get seriously injured! → Dilemma
C A million thoughts raced through Ella’s mind.S She was caught between the devil
and the deep blue sea. After thinking for a while, she decided to be kind to
the poor puppy and help it.
As Ella tried to free the puppy, it struggled, making things harder.
Ella decided to try to calm the puppy before trying to free it again. After what felt
like an eternity, the dog was finally freed! Ella decided to check for any wounds
on the puppy’s back before bringing it home.
“Ella, why are you late and why are you holding a puppy?” Mother
questioned as Ella stepped into the house.
Ella recounted the incident to her mother. Mother praised Ella for her kind act
and checked if there were any serious injuries on the dog, as Mother was a
part-time veterinarian nurse. Fortunately, the puppy was not seriously injured.

3
They decided to adopt the puppy and name it Fluffy, as it was very Fluffy. Pride
filled every fibre of Ella’s being as a brilliant smile cracked across her face.

Crafter
& [No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. As Ella lay
57
in bed that night, images of the day’s events replayed in her mind like a movie
reel. She vowed to be kind to animals and not mistreat them. With that
thought in mind,[Ella drifted off to oblivion.
provert :
sleeping .

you
would feel ?
responsible act how
,

Why is this composition a good example?

1.1 Descriptive introduction

Her story starts off with action. To add more descriptions, she used creative similes such as ‘a
gazelle to the gate’.

1.2 Use of a mix of descriptive and narrative

By using descriptive phrases such as ‘overwhelmed with curiosity’ and ‘pride filled every fibre of
Ella’s being’, J’s story becomes more interesting with the use of adjectives and phrases.

1.3 Personal thought & creating a dilemma

A protagonist should have a dilemma in a story so that he or she can learn and grow. What
better way for a dilemma to play out than in a protagonist’s personal thoughts? It is also a great
way to develop the theme of the story. J also used this well when her protagonist, Ella, was
contemplating helping the stuck puppy or going home.

1.4 Dialogue

Dialogue is another good way to balance a narrative story. While an excess of dialogue is not
advisable, one or two key lines can make a story more interesting. In J’s story, it was the
protagonist’s mother who spoke, asking her why she was late and why she had a puppy with
her.

1.5 Theme
Writing out of point can really be ‘painful’ for students in terms of marks, which is why at TF we
really emphasise on ways to develop the theme well even from the P3 year. J remembered this
rule well and you can see quite clearly how she developed the theme in her story.

1.6 Reflective ending

→ Sum up the entire story, and end off with a lesson, usually expressed through a proverb.
(Examples of proverbs are provided in the worksheet)

Write a story about a stormy day. Pictures – a closed drain pipe, two children
playing tag on a wet ground, cars
“Remember to bring your umbrella!” my mother nagged at me before I left the
house. Y +one
“Too late,” I thought as( I rolled my eyes and slammed the door behind me.S
I set off to school. After what [seemed like an eternity,
J school was finally over. As
the dismissal bell rang, I darted out of my seat and carried my bag. Then, I of
queued outside the classroom. very good description
time passing Slowly .

All the students scurried down the stairs. Just as I stepped out of

32
school, thunder rumbled in the air as white streaks of lightning formed in the
dark, grey sky. Big, fat drops of rain fell from the dark, ominous clouds as gusts
of wind blew around. The rain started off as a drizzle but gradually became a

*
describinga
downpour. My friends had all left the school by asking their parents to pick them
up. Only then did I regret not heeding my mother’s advice to bring an umbrella. I
broke into a brisk walk as I made my way home, using my bag as a shelter for
myself. My house was still quite a distance away.
I was afraid that I could catch a cold. When I reached a traffic
junction, the green man was flickering. Looking around, I saw that there were no
other cars. I decided to cross the road although the red man had lit up. I ran fear.
across the road and suddenly I saw a bright red Toyota speeding towards me.

&
Terror gripped me and perspiration started dripping from my forehead. I was &
powerless and frantic with terror. Then ‘Bang’ the car hit me. The impact was so
great that I was flung a few metres away from my original place. I landed on the
ground with a heavy thud.
I saw passers-by rushing over to me. One of them called the
ambulance while the rest attended to me. Within minutes the ambulance arrived
and the paramedics laid me on a stretcher. At that moment, I lost consciousness.
When I woke up, I found myself in the hospital lying on a bed. My eyes met my
parents’ eyes and I was confused.
I asked my father, “What happened to me? Why am I in the hospital?”
My father told me what had happened. My face was red with embarrassment as
he told me that the paramedics explained that I had dashed across the road. I
regretted my actions as I had broken my leg.
That night, as I lay in the hospital bed, I reflected on the stormy day’s
events. I regretted not listening to my mother and dashing across the road. I
promised myself to turn over a new leaf and & never make the same mistake
again.
A Mischievous Act

Pictures : Students at a drink stall & a boy placing a fake cockroach on the straw
dispenser / a girl, holding a drink and getting a fright when she sees the fake
cockroach / a teacher reprimanding the boy angrily * To more
make

essay use list of

aas descriptive ,I method !
The tintinnabulation of the bell echoed in the school hall. Students quietly left N
their classrooms and headed down for recess. It was an Iexcruciatingly hot day,
& of
3
and my throat was parched. I wanted a big gulp of my favourite cold soda.
The school canteen was full of noise and excitement.[Children were laughing,
& list

talking, and queuing up to get their [Link] smell of yummy food, like
spaghetti, chicken nuggets, and warm bread, filled the air. I made a beeline for
the drinks stall and stood behind John, my classmate. John was a mischievous
and disobedient boy. He enjoyed playing pranks on other students. Despite our
kind teacher, Mrs Tan, telling him not to play pranks in school, he continued to do
so. He would often rub his hands in glee while watching his prank unfold.

I
“What do you want to order, boy?” said the drink stall vendor, looking at John.
John was acting very suspiciously. He had his hand in his pocket and a smirk on
his face. John suddenly left the queue without ordering any drinks. What is he up
to now? I thought to myself before quickly placing my order. Thanking the friendly
vendor, I was about to grab a straw from the straw dispenser when I suddenly
saw what I was most afraid of – a cockroach! It was on top of the straw
.. formischevis
dispenser.
a

Within seconds, I gave a blood-curdling scream that echoed in the canteen. In an

attempt to run away from the cockroach, I lost my footing and fell backwards. The
drink I was holding spilled all over my pristine school uniform, but that was not
the worst. I hit my head on the side of the drink stall, and blood oozed out of the
cut immediately. Suddenly, I heard peals of laughter behind me. When I turned
around slowly, I saw John clutching his stomach and laughing at me. That was
when I realised that he had played a prank by placing a fake cockroach on the
straw dispenser.
“John Tan Chee Hean!” a loud, fierce voice boomed in the canteen.
The canteen was completely silent, even the vendors had stopped working. I
looked in the direction of the voice. It was Mr Ahmad, the school’s Discipline
Master. Everyone was afraid of Mr Ahmad. John stood motionless, his legs
trembling. Mr Ahmad helped me up and looked at the wound on my head.
Fortunately, it was not serious. Then, he reprimanded John severely for playing a
prank, especially in a crowded canteen, and causing me to be hurt. With tears in
his eyes, John apologised to me. Mr Ahmad accompanied both of us to the
General Office. He called my mother to explain what had happened and then
cleaned up my wound and gave me a change of uniform. Then, he called John’s
parents. *
You reap what you sow. John learnt a valuable lesson that day. He was also

!
punished at home, and he had to attend detention in school for two weeks. He
understood that playing pranks was not just a harmless joke. He promised not to
be mischievous and never played pranks again.

will result in
do
Whatever actions you ,

in the
future
.

what
you get will
get good
marks .
hard for you
a test->

Eg If you study
Being Rescued

Grabbing my bag and saying goodbye to my mother, I dashed out of the house. It
was the June school holidays and I was given permission to meet my friends at
the Bukit Timah Gardens for a picnic. I took a short bus ride and met up with
Jane and Mary at the entrance.
Hugging one another, we entered the nearly deserted park. We
found a patch of grass and laid out our picnic mat. Munching the scrumptious
food packed by our mothers, we chatted animatedly. After lunch, we decided to
play a game of tag.
“Where shall we play the game?” asked Jane.
“How about around the big pond in the middle of the park?” suggested Mary.
I readily agreed and we took a stroll in the park till we arrived at the big pond
filled with fish and turtles.
“Don’t go too near the edge of the pond,” warned Mary, “None of us can swim
and no one is around to rescue us.” (Theme using dialogue)
Jane and I burst out laughing. Mary was always timid and afraid. As the game
began, we ran around, screaming to our hearts content. I was the catcher and I
was determined to tag one of my friends. While I was running towards Mary,
disaster struck.
I slipped on the edge of the pond and before I could grab on to
something I fell into the dark, murky water. I let out a blood curdling scream and
tried to reach my feet to the bottom of the pond but it was too deep. I struggled in
the water, flailing my hands in the air. Who will rescue me? Will I drown? I
thought in fear. (Theme using personal thought) By now, Mary and Jane were
shouting for help. “Help! Please! Someone is drowning and needs to be
rescued.” (Theme using dialogue)
When I believed that all was lost, I heard a splash and a large hand lifted me out
of the water. It was a passer-by who had jumped into the pond and rescued me!
(Theme) Fortunately, I was shaken up but unhurt. The passer-by reminded us not
to play near the edge of the pond, especially as we all could not swim.
“Don’t be careless and foolish,” he admonished us as we hung our heads in
shame. He also called my mother who rushed to the park to take us home.
There was no use crying over spilt milk. That night I reflected on
what had happened. I learnt to always act cautiously. The next time I may not be
lucky enough to be rescued by someone. (Theme ending)
Being Considerate

“Di Di Di” “Please mind the platform gap” a voice spoke in multiple languages. I
entered the train with my heavy school bag and bulky science project in hand. I
wiped my sweat with my arm, panting hard after a long day in school. I scanned
the train for a seat. At the corner of my eye, I noticed a seat. As I approached it,
a large, well-built man pushed me aside and sat down. I looked at him and gave
him a glare. The man ignored me and whipped out his phone.
“Next Station Orchard” the voice spoke. Orchard? I thought, it is the city and
now is peak hour. The train will get crowded very soon. As the train arrived at
Orchard, people got off the train. The people at the train station were getting
ready to board but before they did, I swiftly found an empty seat, sat down and
enjoyed the air-conditioner.

Soon, the train was packed like sardines. There was hardly any breathing space.
Just as I was dozing off, an old lady boarded the train. She was carrying bags of
groceries. She looked old and frail. I watched her reaction as she saw no one
was willing to give up their seat for her. She sighed and stood still.

I thought should I give up my seat? If I do, then I can’t rest and there will be no
space to put my belongings on the ground. I would have to hold them for the rest
of my journey home and that would be quite long. But if I don’t, the old lady
might fall as she will be tired and weak for she will be holding the groceries for
quite long. I looked around. Everyone was glued on their phones and could not
care less about the old lady. It was a hard decision. I was torn.

Suddenly, the train jerked and the old lady fell. Her groceries scattered on the
train floor. Without thinking about the consequences, I helped her up and gave
her my seat. I then helped her pick up her groceries and returned them to her.
The old lady gave me a smile and said, “Young girl, thank you for helping me up,
giving up your seat and picking up my groceries. I really appreciate your help. I
wish more young people were like you.” I beamed with pride, as everyone on the
train looked at me. “I gave a wave and exited the train. I smiled to myself as I
walked home.

I learnt a lesson, true happiness was about giving and not getting. Being
considerate to that old lady really made me feel genuine happiness.
A Regret

Zap! Zap! Angry red lasers shot the spaceships on the television screen. I was
playing my latest video game, ‘Laser Bomb’. I would play it every day, day and
night and around the clock, so much so that I neglected my school work.
Suddenly, a high-pitched voice resounded through the house, “Ah Boy ah! Go
and do some revision for your examination tomorrow!”
Sighing, I switched my computer off and dragged my feet to do my revision. Why
must we have examinations? Why can’t we just enjoy life without examinations?
A million thoughts rushed through my mind when… I thought of a good idea! I
can cheat! I quickly took out some note pads and jotted down some important
points before putting them into my bag and going to bed.
My alarm clock rang shrilly. Yawning, I rolled in bed. Today was the day! The
day when my examination took place. Hopping into my Dad’s car, I could feel a
cold sensation that ran down my back. “Bye Darling! Do well for your test!” my
dad exclaimed before heading off for work. A feel of guilt coursed through me.
Soon, it was time for us to go to the examination hall. I took my pencil case and
my notes which had been put into my pocket. Soon, we were all seated at our
places. “Ok students! You may start now!” the invigilator exclaimed. I could see
everybody scribbling on the paper. When the invigilator was not looking, I took
my notes out and copied the answers.
I did not realise my worst nightmare was going to happen….. My friend, Bob,
raised his hand and told the teacher what I had done. “Timmy Siew Kan! You
come out with me now! Bob! You come too!” the invigilator’s shrill voice pierced
the silence. As I walked out of the hall, I could see many eyes staring at me. I
lowered my head as I headed out. “Is it true that you cheated?” the invigilator
questioned me. I nodded my head. Then, the invigilator brought me to the
principal’s office where my parents were informed. I was suspended from school
as a punishment.
As soon as I got home that day, I got my head bitten off by my fuming mad
parents. I was grounded from going out and playing my video games until I
improved my results. Sigh! I really regretted not studying beforehand and
cheating.
An Unlucky Day
I opened one eye as sunlight streamed in my room. Yawning lazily, I stretched
out my long limbs and wondered what type of day I was going to have. Just as I
was dreaming about my mother’s pancakes for breakfast, my bedroom door
slammed open and my mother ran in shouting, “Get up! It is 7.10am! The alarm
did not ring this morning!”
I jumped out of bed like my hair was on fire, forgetting about the pancakes.
I changed into my school uniform and splashed water on my face. I ran down the
stairs, skipping breakfast. Hopping on to my bicycle I peddled off.
When I was about to reach school, dark ominous clouds gathered in the
sky as the sun disappeared. Big drops of water fell from the sky onto my face as I
peddled furiously. When I reached the school gate, I was drenched! I locked my
bicycle at the gate where the rest of the bicycles were and ran into school.
As I stepped into the classroom, water trickled down my face to the floor.
Mrs Ng, my Mathematics teacher glared at me and said,” Go and change now!” I
nodded my head and left my bag on the seat and went to the General Office.
Grabbing a dry uniform, I sighed as I changed. Could this day get any
unluckier?
When I got back to class, Mrs Ng asked me, “Do you have your
homework?”
“Let me go get it,” I replied.
I rummaged through my bag and could not even find my file. Then I realised that
I had not packed my bag this morning! Oh no! Mrs Ng glared at me as I rubbed
my sweaty palms on my uniform.
“Come with me!” she bellowed angrily. I walked towards her, trembling, as she
brought me to the staff room.
Mrs Ng opened the door to the staff room and told me to sit down. I told
her what had happened and she said, “You should be responsible for your own
behaviour.” She also gave me a dressing down as I hung my head in shame.
Once bitten twice shy. After this unlucky day, learnt to be more
responsible. I hoped never to have such an unlucky day again!
An Incident you witnessed

It was Chinese New Year. My parents had gone to the supermarket to buy
Chinese New Year essentials. I did not want to go along with them as I had been
feeling unwell but I recovered after they had left. I was really bored. I decided not
to be a couch potato and instead go to my neighbour, Lynn’s house, to play with
her. I took my keys and phone and headed to Lynn’s house.
I walked along the corridor to her front door. When I got there, I saw
a stranger dressed in a white shirt, with black hair and sunken cheeks, outside
Lynn’s house. His appearance frightened me. He had a bag of tools with him
which was placed on the ground. He was acting suspiciously. I thought that I had
seen this man before. But where? I racked my brain for an answer and found it.
This man was the suspect whom the police came to warn us about a week ago.
I stood behind a wall and watched what the man was going to do. He
took a tool from his bag and tried to unlock the gate of Lynn’s house. The man
was a burglar! I felt nervous and scared. I was in a state of panic. I called the
police and told the police that a burglar was breaking into Lynn’s house.
“Don’t worry. We’ll be there in five minutes,” assured the police.
I waited behind the wall and watched the events unfold. After five minutes, the
police arrived. I was relieved to hear the siren of the police car. The burglar tried
to escape but it was too late. The police ambushed him and pushed him against
the wall. The police handcuffed him and brought him to the police station.
Lynn and her family came out of their house and thanked me for my
quick-thinking. My parents had also come back from their Chinese New Year
shopping. I told them what had happened when they were away and they were
pleased to hear what I had done.
That night I reflected on the day’s events. I was glad that the burglar
had been caught. I had learnt a valuable lesson from this incident. I learnt to be
always prepared for any situation.
Good Phrases that can be used (Credits: Samurai Writing)

PROVERBS

1.A bad workman always blames his tools

Someone who fails at a task and blames his tools does not have the ability to carry out
the task in the first place.
Example: Frustrated, Ting Ting threw her bike to the ground and insisted, “I can’t ride it
because it is broken!” Her father shook his head. “A bad workman always blames his
tools,” he said. “Let’s try that again.”

2. A barking dog never bites

Someone who acts intimidating by being loud is not actually a dangerous person.
Example: The vegetable seller shrank in fear when the customer raised her voice. She
demanded, “Don’t be stingy. Give me a discount!” Shaking my head in disapproval, I
encouraged the seller. “A barking dog never bites. Don’t be afraid of her.”

3. Absence makes the heart grow fonder

Being separated from someone or something for a long time makes you appreciate
them even more.

Example: My mother had been in Thailand for two weeks now. Absence makes the
heart grow fonder, I missed her and her cooking.

4. Actions speak louder than words

A better way of showing your sincerity is doing what you promise rather than just saying
you promise to do it.
Example: Jack promised he would not push Tom around again. But actions speak
louder than words, we had to wait and see if Jack would keep his promise.

5. A friend in need is a friend indeed

This proverb is used to explain that the people who help you when you are in need are
your true friends.
Example: After I lost the race, Mary continued to support me even though everyone else
called me names. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

6. A leopard never changes its spots

It is not possible for a person to change their habits or personality.
Example: Even after being reprimanded for bullying Tom, Jack simply switched his
target to Walter. A leopard never changes its spots.

7. All good things must come to an end

Everything will come to an end, even good things do not last forever.
Example: I had the time of my life at the birthday party. But all good things must come to
an end, and it was time for us to go home.

8. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

If all someone does is work, they will grow bored and become boring.
Example: Jenny was a very hard-working girl, but all work and no play makes Jack a
dull boy, she would soon grow tired of studying all the time.

9. All’s well that ends well

As long as there is a good ending, the problems encountered along the way are not
important.
Example: Finishing this mural was tough, but all’s well that ends well.

10. A penny saved is a penny earned

This proverb is commonly used when advising people to save their money.
Example: On the way home from school, I found a dollar on the floor. I picked it up
happily and said to myself, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”

11. A picture is worth a thousand words

A picture or image expresses meaning more effectively than words.
Example: Johnny did not need to explain how grateful he was for his parents. From the
painting he did of his family, we could tell just how much he loves them. After all, a
picture is worth a thousand words.

12. An empty vessel makes the most noise

The person who is the most foolish is also the noisiest.
Example: Harry is the most talkative student in the class, but you know what they say:
“An empty vessel makes the most noise.” He is also known for his poor grades.

13. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth

A person who has harmed another person should receive a punishment that is equal to
the harm the victim has suffered. This proverb is commonly used as an excuse for
revenge or to teach people to treat others like how they want to be treated.
Example: I accidentally hit Jack with my elbow. I wanted to apologise but Jack was
fuming. “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. You hit me, so I am going to hit you
back!”

14. An idle brain is the devil’s workshop

A lazy person who wastes their time being unproductive is more likely to think of bad
things.
Example: “Can you stop lazing around and start on your homework?” my mother
nagged. “An idle brain is the devil’s workshop!”

15. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

If you want to finish a task, you must start on it first.
Example: It would take me an extremely long time to complete my project, but a journey
of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

16. A stitch in time saves nine

It is better to fix a problem now than later so that the problem will not worsen.
Example: I wanted to fix the shaky ladder later but I remembered the saying “a stitch in
time saves nine”. I should deal it with now, or someone might get hurt if they used it.
17. Beggars can’t be choosers
You should not complain when something you need is given to you, even when the thing
given is not what you wanted.
Example: “Just eat your chicken rice without the chilli,” my mother snapped. “Beggars
can’t be choosers!”

18. The best-laid plans go astray

Even if you have prepared everything, plans might not go the way you want them to.
Example: Soon, we realised we were lost despite following the map. The best-laid plans
go astray, we needed to adapt if we wanted to survive the night.

19. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

People have different definitions of what is beautiful or attractive.
Example: I did not find the puppy very cute, but Sarah kept cooing over it. I suppose
beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

20. Beauty is only skin-deep

Someone who is good-looking is not necessarily good-natured too.
Example: I learned that beauty is only skin-deep. I was overweight, but I was also
hard-working and respectful to my elders, and those qualities are more important than
looks.

21. Better late than never

It is better for someone or something to be overdue instead of never turning up.
Example: Jessica had a bad habit of being late, and she would always give the excuse
“better late than never”.

22. The best things in life are free

The things that are truly important usually do not cost any money.
Example: I realised that the best things in life are free. Even though we cannot afford to
have a fancy lifestyle, my family is still happy because we have one another.
23. Birds of a feather flock together
Similar people are drawn to each other.
Example: Judy and Sam are both big bullies and they are best friends. Indeed, birds of
a feather flock together.

24. Clothes do not make the man

Similar to “beauty is only skin-deep”, “clothes do not make the man” is used to explain
that what we wear or look like does not determine who we are as a person.
Example: Finn, the homeless man, wore the same tattered shirt everyday but clothes do
not make the man. He was kind and friendly to everyone, even animals.

25. Curiosity killed the cat

Being too curious may be harmful. This proverb is usually used to advise people to mind
their own business.
Example: Curiosity killed the cat, I should not have eavesdropped on my parents’
conversation. Now they were going to punish me for it.

26. Don’t bite off more than you can chew

Do not take on responsibilities that are too difficult for you.
Example: I learnt that we should not bite off more than we can chew. I should have
given up some of my commitments.

27. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you

You should not be ungrateful towards the person who has given you something.
Example: I decided to accept the cake even though I did not like chocolate. After all, we
should not bite the hand that feeds us.

28. Don’t judge a book by its cover

We should not decide what someone’s character is like by how they look. This proverb
can be applied to things as well.
Example: The cake was misshapen, but do not judge a book by its cover! It was actually
delicious.
29. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
This proverb is used to discourage people from putting all their efforts and resources
into one thing, as they might lose everything if it turns out to be unsuccessful.
Example: We should always have a back-up plan and never put all our eggs in one
basket.

30. The early bird catches the worm

It is good to be earlier than everyone else as you will have an advantage.
Example: As I was the first to come down for breakfast, my mother gave me the biggest
portion. Indeed, the early bird catches the worm.

31. Every dog has his day

Even the most unfortunate person will find success one day. This proverb can be used
to comfort someone who had a bad day.
Example: Nothing went right today, but I did not let it get me down. Every dog has his
day, and tomorrow would be better.

32. Every cloud has a silver lining

Even misfortune can lead to good things. This proverb is normally used to encourage
people who are going through a hard time or experienced failure.
Example: Even though I did not win the writing competition, one of the judges liked my
story so much, he wanted to publish it. Every cloud has a silver lining.

33. Fortune favours the brave/bold

People who take risks are more likely to be rewarded than people who stick to what is
safe.
Example: Fortune favours the bold, we should not be afraid to try new things.

34. Good things come to those who wait

Patience is often rewarded.
Example: The food took a long time to arrive, but it was one of the most delicious meals
I ever had. Good things come to those who wait.
35. Honesty is the best policy
You should always tell the truth.
Example: I learnt that honesty is the best policy. If I had told my parents the truth at the
beginning, nobody would have gotten hurt.

36. If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again

You should never give up.
Example: Even after falling off the bike a hundred times, I would pick myself up. If at first
you do not succeed, try and try again.

37. If you can’t beat them, join them

If you cannot be better than someone else no matter how hard you try, then you should
befriend or work with them instead.
Example: After weeks of training, I still could not surpass Owen’s speed. Well, if you
cannot beat them, join them. Eventually, I decided the best way to improve my stamina
was to ask Owen for help.

38. If you play with fire, you will get burned

If you do something dangerous, you will get hurt. This proverb is usually used to
discourage people from doing things that will put them in danger.
Example: “Farah, get down from there! If you play with fire, you will get burned!” my
mother warned.

39. It’s better to be safe than sorry

It is better to avoid taking risks than lose everything or get hurt after.
Example: I knew the ladder was shaky, so I decided to find another way to reach the top
shelf. It is better to be safe than sorry.

40. It takes two to tango / It takes two hands to clap

Because two things or people were required for something to happen, both people
should be at fault if it went wrong.
Example: Ben might have started the fight, but Jeffrey fought back. It takes two hands to
clap, and both boys should be punished.

41. Knowledge is power

This proverb is used to encourage people to keep learning.
Example: Learning taekwondo might seem useless, but knowledge is power. One day, I
could use it to protect someone in need.

42. Laughter is the best medicine

Laughing helps us get through sad times.
Example: I was feeling down because I failed my Maths test, but my friends cheered me
up with their silly jokes. After all, laughter is the best medicine.

43. Lightning never strikes the same place twice

An unusual event rarely happens twice.
Example: Lightning never strikes the same place twice. If a wonderful opportunity
opened up for you, you should take it.

44. Look before you leap

You should consider all the possible results before doing something.
Example: I wanted to climb over the fence to retrieve our frisbee but Joe stopped me.
He advised, “You should look before you leap. Are you sure you want to trespass?”

45. Many hands make light work

Work is easier to complete if more people are working together.

Example: After putting our differences aside, we realised that many hands make light
work.

46. Money doesn’t grow on trees

Money is not easily acquired. This proverb can be used to advise people to be careful
with how they spend their money.
Example: I begged my mother to buy the remote-control car for me. She scolded, “Do
you think money grows on trees? It’s too expensive!”

47. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today
You should finish your tasks as soon as you can, rather than leave it to later.
Example: I decided to finish my homework instead of playing soccer with the boys. After
all, we should never put off until tomorrow what we can do today.

48. No man is an island

People cannot survive on their own, we need to rely on one another in order to live.
Example: No man is an island, we should rely on others in times of need.

49. No pain, no gain

To achieve something, we need to work hard.
Example: Just as I felt like giving up, my coach encouraged me, “No pain, no gain.”

50. No use crying over spilt milk

There is no point in dwelling over things that have already happened.
Example: My baby cousin had broken all the plates! But there is no use crying over spilt
milk, I had to think of a way to fix this before my parents came home.
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