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UNIT 13

DISTINGUISHING
FACTS FROM OPINIONS

To differentiate facts
from opinions
FACT

A fact is something which is certainly known to


have occurred, to exist or to be true, and the
truth of which can be justified through
experience, evidence, observation, or
research. A fact reflects an absolute certainty.
For examples:
People need food to survive.
IPB is located in Bogor.
She has been working for IPB for two years.
There are more females than males in this class.
OPINION
An opinion is someone's "belief" or "view". Opinions
differ from facts in that they are open to debate and
cannot be proved to be true or they are true only to
certain groups of people. They may also change over
time. Some writers might make opinions sound like
facts, but there are often phrases or markers that
indicate that they are actually opinions.
For examples:
The students in my class looked so happy with the
result of their test.
I think they were satisfied with their scores.
Perhaps they were of the assumption that they didnt
deserve it.
Some of them were even speechless.
Common markers to indicate
opinions:
a. Certain verbs: appear, argue, assume, believe,
consider, guess, seem, suggest, suspect, say, etc.
For example:
-- I believe this debate is so important.
b. Certain adverbs: maybe, perhaps, possibly, probably,
likely, unlikely.
For example:
Perhaps he needs nobody in his life.
c. Certain nouns: opinion, view, consideration
For example:
In my point of view, we should include poverty in this
discussion
d. Adjectives (adjectives usually, not always, indicate
opinions).
When an adjective is used to present a common belief, it is
stating a fact, not an opinion.
For examples:
Fact:
The weather in winter time is cold.
The stars are uncountable.
Sugar is sweet.
Opinion:
He is nice and helpful.
Houses in this area are expensive.
Bogor is beautiful.
e. Certain ways which provide rooms for
discussion by avoiding using absolute
expressions:
*By reducing the size of the group
a few, a little, some, many, much, most (note: all and none
indicate absoluteness)
For example:
A few people like living by themselves.
*By reducing the number of times something occurs:
usually, often, frequently, sometimes, occasionally, seldom
(note: always and never show absoluteness)
For examples:
He always/ never.
He sometimes comes late.
By using modal auxiliaries to say that something is
possible/probable:
may, might, can, could, should, will, could, must
For example:
Student should prepare themselves for the test.
will (when it is not used in a schedule)
For examples:
The final test will be held for two weeks. (fact)
We will run out of the fossil fuel soon. (opinion)
must (when it is not used to show regulation)
For examples:
The diploma students must wear uniforms on certain
different days. (fact)
They must prepare themselves well for the exam. (opinion)
NOTE: A statement in a compound
sentence can be a fact, an opinion,
or a fact and an opinion:

For examples:
IPB is located in Bogor, and it has eleven faculties. (a fact)
IPB is very attractive to high school students, and it is very
promising as well. (an opinion)
IPB has old buildings, and they are very beautiful. ( a fact and
an opinion)
THANK YOU

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