Learning to Express Opinions
 

When we are talking to other people, quite often we are asked to give an opinion on some topic.
 

Look at the following dialogues which illustrate people giving a simple opinion:
 

-And what do you think about smoking in restaurants?

-Well, I feel it is unfair to the non-smokers.
 

-I’m not quite sure which is the better plan. What’s your opinion?

-As I see it, the second plan is a much better one.
 

-What do you think, Grace? Are the Rockets going to win?

-Personally, I think they’ll lose again.
 

However, giving a simple opinion is often not enough. People expect us to support our opinion. Look at the same dialogues again, but this time notice that the second speaker supports his/her opinion with an illustration of a fact to back up the opinion.
 

-And what do you think about smoking in restaurants?

-Well, I feel it is unfair to the non-smokers because they have to breathe the polluted air from the smokers.
 

-I’m not quite sure which is the better plan. What’s your opinion?

-As I see it, the second plan is a much better one because it costs less and does more for the company.
 

-What do you think, Grace? Are the Rockets going to win?

-Personally, I think they’ll lose again. Their best player was injured and isn’t playing tonight.
 

QUESTIONS USED TO GET OPINIONS:

What do you think?

What’s your opinion?

How do you feel about …?

What do you think of/about …?
 

40 EXPRESSIONS FOR GIVING OPINIONS

20 TOPICS FOR DEBATE