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How to Express Your Opinion in
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Suppose you are with a group of friends discussing the
greatest inventions of the 20th century.
One friend says, “I think the computer was the best
invention. There’s no question about it.”
Another friend says, “I disagree! Have you forgotten
that airplanes exist?”
The first one responds with, “Actually, today’s
airplanes could not operate without computers.”
Knowing how to express your opinion in English is
valuable whether you are speaking or writing. In today’s
program we will look at phrases you can use to share
your point of view.
Common phrases
Many phrases are suitable in everyday speech and some
types of writing, such as on blogs and personal
websites. You have probably already seen or used some of
these phrases:
I think…
I believe…
I feel…
In my opinion… and
I would say…
For example, imagine you have your own food website.
Today you’re writing or talking about the world’s best
street food. You might say:
In my opinion, Bangkok has the best street food.
Add strength
But suppose you wanted to make the statement stronger.
You can do it by adding an adverb or adjective. For
example:
I really think…
I strongly believe…
I truly feel… or
In my honest opinion…
In addition, giving reasons for your opinion adds
strength to the claim. Let’s hear the street food
statement again:
In my honest opinion, Bangkok has the best street food.
I have never seen more choices of what to eat – and
everything I’ve tried has been delicious!
Formal phrases
Next, let’s look at a few phrases that are more common
in formal situations. You might, for example, hear one
of these at a business meeting or a conference, or in a
formal paper:
From my point of view…
From my perspective…
In my view… or
It seems to me that…
Here’s an example:
In my view, cruise ships should be banned. They produce
massive amounts of waste and use the dirtiest fuel in
the world.
Though phrases like “In my view…” are usually more
formal than ones like “I think,” there is no rule for
where or when you can use them. It’s often a matter of
personal choice.
Asking for opinions
So, imagine you’ve expressed yourself. But what about
the opinion of others? Often, when we express an opinion
or suggestion, it’s a good idea to ask other people for
theirs. Phrases like these help show our desire to hear
from others:
What do you think of…?
What are your thoughts on…?
How do you feel about…? and
What’s your opinion on…?
You can use these questions in many kinds of situations.
You might ask, for instance:
What’s your opinion on Futbol Club Barcelona?
How do you feel about the new art director?
What are your thoughts on tonight’s activities?
Agreeing & disagreeing
Finally, let’s talk about agreeing and disagreeing.
Agreeing is the easy part. To show agreement, you can
use short, clear statements. Let’s suppose a friend
says, “I think summer is way more fun than winter!” You
might show you agree by giving one of these responses:
So do I.
Me too.
Definitely.
I agree. or
I couldn’t agree more.
Note that, “agree” is a verb in English, so be careful
not to say, “I am agree” for the present tense verb.
You can also give reasons for your agreement:
I completely agree! I couldn’t live without beach days
and outdoor festivals.
But what if a person says something you disagree with?
With close friends or family, we can use informal,
direct phrases to say we disagree. You might say
something like:
I disagree!
I don’t agree. or
Yeah, but…
Here’s how that sounds:
Yeah, but winter has just as many fun things to do. You
just have to dress warmly.
At other times, such as in discussions of more serious
subjects, or in professional situations, these phrases
can be too direct.
Suppose people at work or school are sharing opinions
about politics or religious beliefs or something equally
sensitive. For such times, your language should be more
polite.
So, instead of saying “I totally disagree!” or “You’re
wrong!” you might say one of these:
I’m not sure I agree with you on…
I’m sorry but I don’t agree. or
I’m afraid I disagree.
Another common way to disagree politely is to tell the
person you respect their opinion before sharing your
own. Try phrases like these:
I see what you’re saying but…
You have a point there but… or
I understand where you’re coming from but…
Listen to a short exchange:
We’re paying sky-high rents and other costs. Our
business would save a lot of money by changing cities.
I see what you’re saying but, in my view, now is not the
right time to leave Los Angeles. The city offers too
many incentives.
Final thoughts
You’ve probably observed that, in real life, many people
state opinions without using an opening phrase. They
might just say, “Summer is better than winter,” for
example. Though this is acceptable with friends or
family or for lighter subjects, avoid doing this in
professional situations or for heavier subjects.
Wow, that was a lot of information, wasn’t it!? The good
news is that you don’t need to memorize it. In my
opinion, you should choose only a few phrases that feel
most natural to you and practice them whenever you can.
I’m Alice Bryant.
Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English.
Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. |
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Additional Information |
Practice
1. Now you try it! Choose an opinion phrase from above
to complete sentences from below. Give one or two
reasons for each opinion. Write your sentences in the
comments section.
.…you should move back home with your family.
....the government should lower fuel prices.
.…we can combat climate change by…
.… [football player, musician or actor name] is better
than…
.... [city name] has the best street food.
(Example: In my opinion, Bangkok has the best street
food. I have never seen more choices of what to eat –
and everything I’ve tried has been delicious! In
Yaowarat alone, there are hundreds of food stalls
offering tasty noodles, seafood, satay, Thai desserts
and fresh fruit.)
2. If you read another person’s opinion in the comments
section, and you agree or disagree, you can respond to
their comments. But, if you disagree, be sure to use
polite phrases! |
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Source: Voice of America |
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