What is a Statement?

S2-SA5-0013

Grade Level:

Class 6

NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication

Definition

What is it?

A statement is a sentence that can be judged as either true or false. It declares a fact or an opinion that can be verified. It's not a question, a command, or an exclamation.

Simple Example

Quick Example

If your friend says, 'Our school cricket team won yesterday's match,' that's a statement. You can check the match results to see if it's true or false. If they say, 'Wow, what a match!' that's an exclamation, not a statement.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's identify if 'The price of 1 kg of onions is Rs 50 today' is a statement. --- Step 1: Does it declare something? Yes, it declares the price of onions. --- Step 2: Can it be judged as true or false? Yes, you can go to the market or check online to see if 1 kg of onions really costs Rs 50 today. --- Step 3: Is it a question, command, or exclamation? No, it's none of these. --- Answer: Yes, 'The price of 1 kg of onions is Rs 50 today' is a statement because it declares something verifiable as true or false.

Why It Matters

Understanding statements is key to clear thinking and communication. In law, lawyers use statements as evidence, and journalists write news reports based on verifiable statements. Even in daily life, knowing what makes a good statement helps you explain things clearly and avoid misunderstandings.

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Thinking all sentences are statements. | CORRECTION: Only sentences that can be proven true or false are statements. Questions, commands, and exclamations are not statements.

MISTAKE: Confusing an opinion with something that can't be a statement. | CORRECTION: An opinion CAN be a statement if it declares something that can be judged true or false (e.g., 'Mangoes are the best fruit' is an opinion, but 'Mangoes are fruits' is a verifiable statement).

MISTAKE: Believing a statement has to be true. | CORRECTION: A statement just needs to be capable of being true or false. 'The sun is made of ice cream' is a false statement, but it's still a statement.

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: Is 'How many chapters are in this book?' a statement? | ANSWER: No, it is a question.

QUESTION: Is 'Drink your milk every morning' a statement? | ANSWER: No, it is a command.

QUESTION: Identify all statements: (a) Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu. (b) What a lovely day! (c) Please close the door. (d) My mobile phone has 8GB RAM. | ANSWER: (a) and (d) are statements.

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of the following is a statement?

Are you going to the market?

Please complete your homework.

The Earth revolves around the Sun.

Oh no!

The Correct Answer Is:

Option C declares a fact that can be verified as true or false. Options A is a question, B is a command, and D is an exclamation.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you read news on an app like Inshorts or watch a news channel, every piece of information presented as a fact is a statement. News anchors and reporters verify these statements before presenting them to ensure accuracy, which is crucial for building trust with the audience.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

VERIFY: to prove that something is true | FACT: something known to be true or to have happened | OPINION: a belief or judgment about something | COMMAND: an order | EXCLAMATION: a sudden cry or remark, especially expressing surprise, anger, or pain

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Now that you know what a statement is, you're ready to learn about different types of sentences and how they are used. This will help you write and speak more clearly and effectively in all your subjects!