GIVING OPINION
Cara menyatakan pendapat dalam bahasa Inggris
An opinion is what you think or feel about something. It's subjective — it can be different from person to person.
Useful Phrases for Giving Opinions
| Type | Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Agreeing | I agree with that. | Saya setuju. |
| I think so too. | Saya juga berpikir begitu. | |
| That's exactly how I feel. | Persis seperti yang saya rasakan. | |
| Disagreeing (Polite) | I see your point, but... | Saya mengerti maksudmu, tapi... |
| I'm afraid I disagree. | Saya takut saya tidak setuju. | |
| I have a different opinion. | Saya punya opini berbeda. | |
| Giving Opinion | In my opinion... | Menurut pendapat saya... |
| I believe that... | Saya percaya bahwa... | |
| From my point of view... | Dari sudut pandang saya... | |
| It seems to me that... | Tampaknya bagi saya bahwa... | |
| Asking for Opinion | What do you think? | Apa pendapatmu? |
| How do you feel about...? | Bagaimana perasaanmu tentang...? |
Example Dialogues
Dialogue 1: Agreeing
A: I think this movie is really boring.
B: I don't know. I quite enjoyed it actually.
A: Really? Well, I guess we have different tastes then!
Dialogue 2: Disagreeing Politely
A: Homework should be banned!
B: I understand why you say that, but I have to disagree. Homework helps us practice what we learned in class.
A: Hmm, that's a fair point actually.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't Say
"I'm agree"
❌ Incorrect grammar
Say This Instead
"I agree" or "I'm agreed"
✅ Correct
Don't Say
"According to me"
❌ Not natural for native speakers
Say This Instead
"In my opinion" / "From my point of view"
✅ Natural & common
PASSIVE VOICE
Complete guide: Present Simple, Past Simple, Future Simple, Present Continuous, Present Perfect & Modals
Subject +
be (am/is/are/was/were/been/being) + Past Participle (V3) (+ by agent)Active: Cats eat fish → Passive: Fish are eaten by cats
1. Present Simple Passive
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| I write letters every day. | Letters are written by me every day. |
| She cooks dinner. | Dinner is cooked by her. |
| They sell cars. | Cars are sold by them. |
Active: People speak English worldwide.
Passive: English is spoken worldwide.
→ Use when the action happens regularly/fact.
2. Past Simple Passive
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| I wrote the report yesterday. | The report was written by me yesterday. |
| They built this bridge in 1990. | This bridge was built in 1990. |
| Someone stole my wallet. | My wallet was stolen. |
Active: Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.
Passive: The light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison.
→ Use when the action happened at a specific time in the past.
3. Future Simple Passive
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| I will finish the project tomorrow. | The project will be finished by me tomorrow. |
| They will announce the winner soon. | The winner will be announced soon. |
| Robots will replace humans? | Humans will be replaced by robots? |
Active: The company will launch a new product next month.
Passive: A new product will be launched by the company next month.
→ Use for future plans/predictions.
4. Present Continuous Passive
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| She is cooking dinner right now. | Dinner is being cooked by her right now. |
| They are repairing the road. | The road is being repaired. |
| Someone is using my computer. | My computer is being used. |
Active: The team is developing a new app.
Passive: A new app is being developed by the team.
→ Action happening RIGHT NOW.
5. Present Perfect Passive
| Active | Passive |
|---|---|
| I have finished my homework. | My homework has been finished. |
| Someone has stolen my bike. | My bike has been stolen. |
| They have built many hospitals. | Many hospitals have been built. |
Active: Scientists have discovered a new planet.
Passive: A new planet has been discovered by scientists.
→ Action completed, result still relevant NOW.
6. Modal Passive Voice
Can / Could
can/could be + V3
This problem can be solved easily.
Must / Have to
must/have to be + V3
Homework must be submitted on time.
Should / Ought to
should/ought to be + V3
Children should be taught about safety.
May / Might
may/might be + V3
The meeting may be postponed until Friday.
When to USE Passive Voice?
My wallet was stolen. (We don't know who did it)
The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889. (We care about the tower, not the builder)
The experiment was conducted carefully.
Rice is grown in Asia.
PREPOSITIONS OF TIME & PLACE
In, On, At, By, For, With, From, To, About — Complete Guide
Prepositions of TIME
| Preposition | Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| IN | Months, Years, Seasons, Parts of day (morning/evening), Long periods | in January, in 2024, in summer, in the morning, in the 21st century |
| ON | Days of week, Dates, Special days, Specific parts of a day | on Monday, on May 15th, on Christmas Day, on Friday night |
| AT | Clock time, Precise moments, Festivals, Locations (at home/school/work) | at 5 o'clock, at noon, at midnight, at Christmas, at school |
| FOR | Duration (how long) | for 3 hours, for 2 weeks, for years, for a long time |
| SINCE / FROM | Starting point (from when) | since 2020, from Monday, since childhood |
| UNTIL / TILL / TO | End point (until when) | until Friday, till 5 o'clock, up to now |
| BY | Deadline (not later than) | by tomorrow, by next week, by the end of this month |
| BEFORE / AFTER | Earlier/Later than | before lunch, after the exam, before 5 PM |
| DURING | Throughout a period | during the meeting, during the holiday, during class |
| AROUND | Approximate time | around 5 PM, around noon, around midnight |
Prepositions of PLACE
| Preposition | Usage | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| IN | Inside enclosed spaces, Countries, Cities, Rooms | in the box, in Japan, in London, in the kitchen |
| ON | Surfaces, Lines (streets/rivers/coastlines) | on the table, on Main Street, on the coast, on the wall |
| AT | Specific points/locations | at the bus stop, at the door, at the corner, at home |
| BY | Near / Beside | by the river, by the window, sit by me |
| NEXT TO | Adjacent to | next to the bank, next to my house |
| NEAR | Close to | near the station, near the park |
| BETWEEN | In the middle of two things | between A and B, between 5 and 6 PM |
| AMONG | In the middle of 3+ things | among friends, among the crowd |
| UNDER / BELOW | Lower position | under the table, below the bridge |
| OVER / ABOVE | Higher position | over the roof, above the clouds |
| IN FRONT OF | Facing something | in front of the TV, in front of the building |
| BEHIND | At the back of | behind the door, behind you |
| ACROSS / THROUGH | From one side to another | walk across the street, drive through the tunnel |
| INTO | Movement toward inside | go into the room, jump into the pool |
| ONTO | Movement onto surface | jump onto the bed, put it onto the table |
| OUT OF | From inside to outside | get out of the car, run out of the room |
| TOWARD(S) | In the direction of | walk towards me, move towards the exit |
| ALONG | Following a line/path | walk along the beach, along the corridor |
| AROUND | Circling / surrounding | sit around the table, look around the city |
| UP / DOWN | Vertical movement | go up the stairs, climb down the ladder |
Other Important Prepositions
WITH
Accompaniment / Instrument
with my friend, cut with a knife, filled with joy
FROM
Origin / Source
from Indonesia, learn from mistakes, receive a message from
ABOUT
Topic / Concern
talking about you, worried about the exam, a book about history
OF
Common Mistakes
Wrong
"I will meet you in Monday"
"She lives in Jl. Sudirman No. 5"
Correct
"I will meet you on Monday"
"She lives at Jl. Sudirman No. 5"
• Days → ON (on Monday)
• Months/Years/Seasons → IN (in July, in 2024)
• Clock time → AT (at 5 PM)
• Street addresses → AT (at Jl. Sudirman)
• Cities/Countries → IN (in Tokyo, in Japan)
ARGUMENTATIVE TEXT
Definition, Structure & Language Features
An argumentative text is a type of writing where the writer presents arguments FOR or AGAINST a topic, supported by evidence and reasoning, to persuade readers to accept their viewpoint.
Structure of Argumentative Text
The writer's clear position on the issue.
Example: "Smoking should be banned in public places."
Reasons WHY the thesis is correct, backed by facts, statistics, expert opinions.
Example: "First, smoking causes lung cancer (WHO data). Second, secondhand smoke harms non-smokers."
Acknowledge opposing views and refute them.
Example: "Some argue smoking is personal choice, BUT public health outweighs personal freedom."
Summarize main points and reinforce the thesis.
Example: "Therefore, banning smoking in public places is necessary for public health."
Language Features of Argumentative Text
Connectives
- Adding: Furthermore, Moreover, In addition, Besides
- Contrasting: However, Nevertheless, On the other hand, Although
- Concluding: Therefore, Thus, In conclusion, Consequently
- Sequencing: First(ly), Second(ly), Finally, Lastly
Modal Verbs
- Obligation: must, should, ought to, have to
- Advice: had better, might want to consider
- Prediction: will, may, might
- Deduction: must be, can't be
Causal Conjunctions
- Because/Since: cause → effect
- Therefore/Thus/So: effect ← cause
- As a result: consequence
- Due to/Owing to: because of
Evaluative Adjectives
- important, significant, crucial, essential
- effective, efficient, beneficial, advantageous
- harmful, dangerous, detrimental, damaging
- controversial, debatable, questionable
Example Paragraph
Sample: Should Homework Be Banned?
[Thesis] In my opinion, homework should not be completely banned, but its amount should be significantly reduced. While homework has some educational value, excessive homework causes stress and reduces students' free time for extracurricular activities and family bonding.
[Argument 1] First of all, numerous studies have shown that too much homework leads to sleep deprivation among teenagers. According to Stanford University, students who spend more than 2 hours on homework per night suffer from sleep deprivation, which negatively affects their academic performance and mental health.
[Argument 2] Furthermore, homework often creates inequality. Students from low-income families who lack internet access or quiet study spaces cannot complete assignments as effectively as their wealthier peers, widening the achievement gap.
[Rebuttal] Admittedly, opponents argue that homework reinforces classroom learning. However, research shows that independent reading and creative projects can achieve the same goal without the stress of traditional worksheets.
[Conclusion] Therefore, schools should limit homework to 30 minutes per subject per night. This balanced approach maintains educational benefits while protecting students' well-being and promoting equity.
HORTATORY EXPOSITION TEXT
Definition, Structure & Language Features
A hortatory text is a type of persuasive writing that aims to RECOMMEND or ADVISE the reader to do (or not do) something. Unlike argumentative text which presents both sides, hortatory focuses on PERSUADING the reader to take specific action.
Structure of Hortatory Exposition
Introduce the topic and state your recommendation clearly.
Example: "Everyone should recycle waste regularly."
Present multiple arguments with evidence.
Example: "Recycling saves energy. It reduces pollution. It conserves resources."
Tell reader EXACTLY what they should do.
Example: "Therefore, we should start recycling today by separating organic and inorganic waste at home."
Language Features of Hortatory Exposition
Abstract Nouns
importance, benefit, advantage, disadvantage, danger, necessity, urgency
Modal Verbs (Strong Recommendation)
Must (wajib), Should (sebaiknya), Ought to
Imperatives
Do, Don't, Let's, Never, Always remember to, Make sure to
Persuasive Adverbs
clearly, definitely, certainly, undoubtedly, strongly recommend
Argumentative vs Hortatory: Key Differences
| Aspect | Argumentative | Hortatory |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To present & defend a viewpoint | To persuade reader to DO something |
| Structure | Thesis → Arguments → Rebuttal → Conclusion | Thesis → Arguments → Recommendation |
| Tone | Objective, analytical | More direct, urgent, advisory |
| Both sides? | Yes, acknowledges counter-arguments | No, focuses on one side only |
| Ending | Conclusion restating thesis | Call-to-action (specific steps) |
| Examples | Essay, article, debate script | Public service ad, campaign speech, editorial |
Example Hortatory Text
Why We Must Recycle Waste
[Thesis] Recycling waste is one of the simplest yet most impactful actions we can take to protect our planet. Unfortunately, many people still underestimate its importance and throw away recyclable materials without thinking twice.
[Arguments] There are compelling reasons why everyone must recycle. First, recycling significantly reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills. According to EPA data, recycling and composting prevented 292 million tons of waste from reaching landfills in 2018 alone. Second, recycling conserves natural resources. Making paper from recycled materials uses 60% less energy than making it from raw materials. Furthermore, recycling helps combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing processes.
[Recommendation] Therefore, I strongly urge everyone to start recycling today. It takes minimal effort but makes a huge difference. Begin by separating your household waste into three categories: organic, recyclable, and residual. We must act now before it's too late. Remember: small actions lead to big changes. Let's make recycling a habit for our future generations!
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