B1 Lesson 1: Expressing Personal Opinions Clearly
Welcome to a new series on writing! You have learned to tell stories and describe things. Now, we will learn how to write about your opinion1. This is a very important skill for writing essays, reviews, and participating in discussions.
The first step is learning to tell the difference between a fact and an opinion.
Fact vs. Opinion: What's the Difference?
A fact2 is a statement that can be proven to be true. An opinion is a person's belief, feeling, or judgment about something. It cannot be proven right or wrong.
| Fact (Can be proven) | Opinion (What someone believes) |
|---|---|
| Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia. | Phnom Penh is the most exciting city in Cambodia. |
| That restaurant sells coffee. | That restaurant sells the best coffee in Kampot. |
| This movie is three hours long. | This movie is very boring. |
How to Signal Your Opinion
To make it clear that you are sharing a belief, not a fact, you should start your sentence with a "signal phrase."
Your Toolkit of Opinion Signal Phrases
Here are some of the most common phrases. Phrases at the beginning of a sentence are followed by a comma.
- In my opinion, ...
- I think (that)...
- I believe (that)...
- I feel (that)...
- For me, ...
- From my perspective, ...
Example: In my opinion, living in the countryside is more peaceful than living in the city.
✍️ B1 Opinion Checklist
- ✔️ Is my statement an opinion (my belief) and not a fact?
- ✔️ Have I used a signal phrase (like "I think that...") to introduce my opinion?
- ✔️ If my signal phrase is at the beginning (like "In my opinion,"), did I use a comma after it?
- ✔️ Is my main point stated clearly?
🧠 Practice Quiz: Fact or Opinion?
Read each sentence and decide if it is a fact or an opinion.
1. The population of Cambodia is over 16 million people.
Answer: Fact (This can be proven with data).
2. I believe that durian is the most delicious fruit in the world.
Answer: Opinion (This is a personal belief; others might disagree).
3. Learning a new language is very difficult.
Answer: Opinion (For some people it is difficult, for others it might be easy. It is a judgment).
📝 Homework: State Your Opinions
Get your notebook and pen. Your task is to practice writing clear opinion statements.
Choose THREE of the topics below. For each topic, write ONE complete sentence that clearly states your opinion. Use a different signal phrase from the "toolkit" for each one.
- Smartphones
- Social Media (Facebook, TikTok, etc.)
- Online learning vs. Classroom learning
- Traveling by bus vs. Traveling by moto
- The best tourist destination in Cambodia
Example Answer for "Smartphones":
I feel that smartphones are the most useful invention of the last 20 years.
Vocabulary Glossary
- Opinion: (Noun) - មតិ - A belief, judgment, or way of thinking about something. ↩
- Fact: (Noun) - ការពិត - A piece of information that is known to be true. ↩
- Signal Phrase: (Noun Phrase) - ឃ្លាសញ្ញា - A group of words used to introduce an opinion, quote, or other information. ↩
- Perspective / Viewpoint: (Noun) - ទស្សនៈ - A particular way of thinking about something. ↩
- To state: (Verb) - បញ្ជាក់ - To say or write something, especially clearly and carefully.