which of the following sentences expresses an opinion?
AThe sun rises in the east.
BWater freezes at 0 degrees Celsius.
CShe is the best teacher in the school.
DThere are seven days in a week
Answer:
C. She is the best teacher in the school.
Read Explanation:
Understanding Opinion vs. Fact in English Grammar
- Fact: A statement that can be proven true or false through objective evidence. It is verifiable.
- Opinion: A statement that expresses a belief, feeling, judgment, or personal view. It cannot be objectively proven true or false for everyone.
Key Indicators of Opinion Statements:
- Superlatives: Words like 'best,' 'worst,' 'most,' 'least' often indicate an opinion because they represent a subjective judgment.
- Adjectives expressing judgment: Words like 'beautiful,' 'ugly,' 'interesting,' 'boring,' 'good,' 'bad' are subjective.
- Modal verbs expressing belief: 'should,' 'ought to,' 'might,' 'could' can sometimes signal an opinion.
- Personal pronouns: Statements starting with 'I think,' 'I believe,' 'In my opinion' clearly signal an opinion.
Why "She is the best teacher in the school." is an Opinion:
- The word 'best' is a superlative adjective. What one person considers the 'best' teacher, another might not.
- Criteria for 'best' can vary greatly: effectiveness in teaching, approachability, subject knowledge, ability to inspire, etc.
- There is no objective, universally agreed-upon metric to definitively prove someone is the 'best' teacher. It depends on individual perception and experience.
Distinguishing from Fact (Example):
- Fact: "The teacher has been working at the school for 10 years." (This can be verified by school records.)
- Fact: "The teacher teaches mathematics." (This can be verified by the timetable or course catalog.)
Relevance for Competitive Exams:
- Many exams include questions testing the ability to differentiate between factual statements and opinions.
- This skill is crucial for reading comprehension, critical thinking, and identifying the author's stance in a text.
- Recognizing opinion helps in analyzing arguments and understanding persuasive language.