Statement vs Sentence

What is the difference between…

• A Statement?

• A Sentence?
 Proposition or Statement
• A proposition (statement)  is a sentence
that is either true or false.

• Some of the statements are “clearly true”

Example: “Red is a color”

• Some of the statements are “clearly false”

Example: “Mumbai is in China”

• Some of the statements are “controversial”

Example: “God does not exist”
 Sentence vs. Statement
• A sentence may be used to express
more than one statement.

Example
• "Since smoking is bad for your health, you
should not do it."

• includes two statements:

 "Smoking is bad for your health."
 "You should not do it." 
 Important things to Remember
(conti.)
• Not all sentences are statements.
Example
 What is the time? (Question)
 Hi, Dad! (Greeting)
 Close the window! (Command)
 Please send me your current catalog. (Request)
 Let’s go to Paris for our anniversary. (Proposal)
 Insert tab A into slot B. (Instruction)
 Oh, my goodness! (Exclamation)
Important things to Remember (conti.)
Opinions – are not statements
• "opinion" is a belief that we accept.

Example
 Our views about religion.
 the best form of government.
 what constitutes the virtuous life.
 the meaning of works of art, literature, and music can
all be classified as "opinions."

• such statements are not true or false, and there

is no need to offer reasons in support of them.
 Examples of Statement

• "Bob bought a new car."

• "Suzanne has the measles."

• "An advanced form of life exists on the planet

Mars."

Each of these sentences is a statement

because it is either true or false.
Exercise on Identifying Statements

1. The batter hit the baseball 502 feet

into the center field.

Ans: YES, This is a Statement.

 It is either true or false that the ball went
502 feet.
2. The teacher exclaimed, "Don't come
into class late again!"

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 It is a command and an exclamation.
3. Blue is my favorite color.

Ans: This is a Statement.

 It is NOT an opinion.

Comment: Be careful about what you say is just an

opinion. Can it be true or false that the person's favorite
color is blue? I think so. It may be that we have no other
means of checking the truth of the statement than by
person's own word, and, for all I know, the person could
be lying about their favorite color.
None of those considerations change the fact that
the statement is either true or false.
4.Scientists have discovered the remains
of a lost civilization on the floor of the
Atlantic Ocean.

Ans: YES This is a Statement.

Comment: It's a false  statement (as far as I know).
5. Wow! Did you see that baseball sail
out of the park?

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 It is an exclamation and a question.
 6. The most important thing in life is
family.

Ans: YES this is a Statement.

 It is controversial statement.
7. I now pronounce you man and wife.

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

Comment: This is not a statement, but is a very special

kind of sentence. It is like blessing, it is designed to help
establish, and confirm a specific reality.  Specific
individuals are granted certain authority to confer specific
titles, rights, and responsibilities on others.
8. The Chesnutt Library has more than
500,000 volumes.

Ans: YES this is a Statement.

 It is either true or false.
9. Sit down and be quiet!

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 Its a Command.
10. Kill the referee! 

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 Its an Exclamation and Command.
11. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury:
Could any reasonable person really
believe that a man of such outstanding
character as my client could have
committed the heinous crime for which
he has been accused? 

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 Its a Question .
12. John F. Kennedy was shot by a single
gunman on November 22, 1963.

Ans: YES this is a Statement.

 It may be controversial, but it is either true
or false.
13. Take your umbrella with you today.

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 Its a Command.
14. Have you seen Eddie Murphy's latest
movie?

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 Its a Question.
15. The teacher said, "If you are late for
class again, I will give you a 0 for your
next test grade." 

Ans: YES this is a Statement.

 It’s either true or false that the teacher
made the statement.
16. Are you sure she is the one who did
it?

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 Its a Question.
17. Complete this questionnaire.

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 Its a Question.
18. If you keep up this behavior, you will
be punished. 

Ans: YES this is a Statement.

 It is either true or false.
19. You wouldn't dare break your word to
us, would you?

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 Its a Question.
20. Holy God!  

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 Its a Exclamation.
21. Would you please complete this
questionnaire.

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 Its a question and request.
22. You will be punished if you do not sit
down.

Ans: YES this is a Statement.

 It’s either true or false.
23. "The United States holds presidential
elections every four years."

Ans: YES this is a Statement.

 It’s either true or false.
24. "More than forty people are enrolled
in this class.“

Ans: YES this is a Statement.

 It’s either true or false.
25. Can I get you something to drink?

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 Its a Question.
26. Ted Williams is the greatest hitter in
baseball history.

Ans: YES this is a Statement.

 It’s either true or false.
27. What do you say we stop at the next
rest stop?

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 Its a Question.
28. I be good to those who are good, and
to those who are not. For goodness
increase goodness.

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 Its an opinion
29. Close that window, solder! It’s
freezing in here!

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 It’s an exclamation and a request
30. You should not cheat. God knows
everything what we do.

Ans: This is NOT a Statement.

 It’s an opinion