Expressing an Opinion
Useful Expressions
Asking for an Opinion
- What do you think?
- Care to share your opinion?
- What are your thoughts on this?
- What do you make of this?
- What is your take/stand on this?
Stating an Opinion
- Personally, I think/believe/feel...
- In my opinion...
- If you ask me...
- As far as I'm concerned...
- The way I see it...
Expressing Agreement
- I agree with you.
- I couldn't agree more.
- You have a point there.
- You're absolutely right.
- We’re on the same page.
Expressing Disagreement
- I’m afraid I disagree.
- I beg to differ.
- I'm not so sure about that.
- I don't see it that way.
- With all due respect, I don’t think that is true/I think you’re wrong.
Dialogue Practice
Read the dialogue aloud with your teacher.
After examining several web designers' portfolios, a team is trying to decide whom to hire. | |
 Nina | In my opinion, this designer, Luigi Rossi, had the best portfolio. What do you guys think? |
 Saya | I agree with you. I also liked Marina's work. I cannot really decide between the two. |
 Zach | I’m afraid I disagree. Luigi's work is far too bold and unconventional. We don't want our clients to be confused or taken aback when they visit our site. We should keep it minimalistic. Take Sonya's work for example. It's so simple, clear, and beautiful. |
 Nicole | Zach and I are on the same page here. Luigi's websites are too flashy. Also, if you ask me, we should try to find someone with more experience under their belt, someone who has already been working in the field for at least 5 years. |
 Nina | You have a point there. |
 Saya | I beg to differ. There are plenty of young, talented people who just lack experience. They're not any less competent than the more experienced applicants. |
 Nina | Well then, it seems like we won't reach an agreement on this easily. Let's submit this to a vote. |
Check your understanding:
1.
What kind of style does Zach prefer for the company's website?
2.
What kind of person does Nicole deem to be fit for the job?
3.
Was an agreement reached in the end?
Role Play
Role-play the following situation with your teacher.
Situation
You are a manager in a company. You are having a discussion with another manager about whether you should let your employees work from home. One of you believes that allowing your employees to work from home will bring positive results, whereas the other one thinks it will only impede their productivity. Bring arguments to support your opinion. Your teacher will be the other manager.
Discussion
1.
Do you usually engage in debates? Why? Why not?
2.
Do you think disagreeing with someone can be beneficial? Why? Why not?
3.
Do you think it is necessary for a company to have people with different opinions? Why or why not?
4.
Why is it important to learn about different opinions and perspectives?
