--- title: "Spotting Facts and Opinions" description: "Distinguish checkable factual claims from opinions that share views or preferences, and explain how evidence can help check a claim in books, adverts and conversations" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spotting-facts-and-opinions-mt_jJBprWe2pe source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spotting-facts-and-opinions-mt_jJBprWe2pe.md retrieved: 2026-11-12 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Spotting Facts and Opinions Distinguish checkable factual claims from opinions that share views or preferences, and explain how evidence can help check a claim in books, adverts and conversations Subject: English · Area: Reading Comprehension · Ages 6 to 8 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spotting-facts-and-opinions-mt_jJBprWe2pe ## Ready when they can - Sort simple statements into facts and opinions (e.g. 'spiders have eight legs' vs 'spiders are scary') - Explain how to check a factual claim by counting, observing, measuring, using a record or consulting a trusted source - Use opinion words to signal their own view (e.g. 'I think', 'my favourite') ## Lesson: Fact or Opinion? A fact is true information. A factual claim says something you can check by counting, looking, measuring or using a trusted source. A check may support the claim or show it is mistaken. Being checkable does not make a claim true. An opinion shares a view or preference, such as which game is most fun. People can share an opinion or have different opinions. *(drawing: Count to check 'There are five dots.' 'These dots are beautiful' shares a view.)* **Example.** Mia reads 'The Moon orbits Earth' and 'The Moon looks beautiful tonight.' A trusted science book can help her check the first claim. 'Beautiful' shares a view about how the Moon looks. Even if everyone likes the view, that does not turn it into a fact. Choose a check that fits the claim. Count objects, measure a length, watch what happens, or use a record or trusted book. Measure length from zero on a ruler. An expert can help with facts about their subject. Evidence is information that helps you check a claim. Someone saying a claim is true is not enough. **Example.** An advert says, 'This cereal is the best breakfast ever.' 'Best' shares a preference. Even a famous cook would be sharing a preference by saying this. 'This cereal has 12 grams of sugar in one serving' is a claim you can check against the serving information on the box. One sentence can hold both kinds of statement. 'Our class has 18 children, and it is the friendliest class' has two parts. Count the children to check the first part. 'Friendliest' shares a view without a stated test. Split a long sentence and check each part. A number alone does not make a statement factual. Use 'I think' or 'my favourite' when sharing your view. These phrases are clues, not rules. 'I think this bag has seven buttons' still contains a claim you can check by counting. Read the whole statement. Words such as 'lovely' or 'boring' often share a judgment. **Recap.** Check factual claims with evidence. Opinions share views or preferences. Read the whole statement, and check each part of a mixed sentence. *The lesson, questions and learning cards were written for this dataset.* ## Practice 24 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Optional connections - [Main Topic of Informational Texts](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/main-topic-of-informational-texts-mt_aFvsj35QzC) - [Expressing & Justifying Opinions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/expressing-and-justifying-opinions-mt_S0hzjAeLSK) ## Opens up - [Fact vs opinion](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/fact-vs-opinion-mt_V6456X6pJE)