Expressing Opinions

Being able to share your opinion is one of the most important conversational skills. Whether you are discussing a movie with friends, participating in a meeting at work, or debating an idea in class, you need to express what you think clearly and politely.

Many learners know how to say "I think..." but that is only the beginning. In this lesson, you will learn many different ways to share opinions, agree and disagree politely, and have productive discussions.

Giving Your Opinion

Simple and Direct

"I think..." — "I think the new cafe is really nice."
"I believe..." — "I believe education is the most important investment."
"In my opinion..." — "In my opinion, the book is better than the movie."
"I feel that..." — "I feel that we should give him another chance."

Stronger Opinions

"I'm convinced that..." — "I'm convinced that this is the right decision."
"I strongly believe..." — "I strongly believe we need to change our approach."
"There's no doubt in my mind that..." — "There's no doubt in my mind that she's the best candidate."
"I'm absolutely sure that..." — "I'm absolutely sure we can finish on time."

Softer Opinions (When You Are Not 100% Sure)

"I'm not sure, but I think..." — "I'm not sure, but I think the store closes at 9."
"It seems to me that..." — "It seems to me that the project is behind schedule."
"As far as I know..." — "As far as I know, the meeting is still on Friday."
"I might be wrong, but..." — "I might be wrong, but I think we should try a different approach."
"I suppose..." — "I suppose that's one way to look at it."
"I tend to think that..." — "I tend to think that smaller classes are better."

Asking for Others' Opinions

"What do you think?"
"What's your opinion on this?"
"How do you feel about...?"
"Do you agree?"
"What do you reckon?" (informal, common in British English)
"What are your thoughts?"
"Would you agree that...?"

Agreeing with Someone

Strong Agreement

"I completely agree."
"Absolutely!"
"Exactly!"
"That's so true."
"I couldn't agree more."
"You're absolutely right."
"That's exactly what I think."

Partial Agreement

"I agree to some extent, but..."
"You have a point, but..."
"That's true, although..."
"I see what you mean, but I also think..."
"I partly agree. However..."
"You're right about that, but on the other hand..."

Casual Agreement

"Yeah, totally."
"For sure."
"Same here."
"I think so too."
"Good point."
"That makes sense."

Disagreeing Politely

Disagreeing in English requires diplomacy. Being too direct can sound rude, especially in professional settings.

Polite Disagreement

"I see your point, but I think..."
"I understand what you're saying, but..."
"I'm not sure I agree with that."
"I see it differently."
"I respect your opinion, but I feel that..."
"That's an interesting point, but have you considered...?"
"I'm afraid I have to disagree."

Stronger Disagreement (Still Polite)

"I'm sorry, but I completely disagree."
"I don't think that's quite right."
"With all due respect, I see it differently."
"I can see why you might think that, but..."

Casual Disagreement (Friends)

"I don't know about that."
"Hmm, I'm not so sure."
"Really? I think..."
"I get what you're saying, but..."
"No way! I think..."

What NOT to Say

"You're wrong." (too blunt)
"That's stupid." (rude)
"That makes no sense." (dismissive)
"No." (without explanation)

Instead, always offer a reason for your disagreement and acknowledge the other person's perspective first.

Having a Discussion

Structure for Sharing Your View

State your opinion: "I think we should..."
Give a reason: "because..."
Give an example: "For example..."
Ask what others think: "What do you think?"

Example:

"I think we should start the project next month, because it will give us more time to prepare. For example, we still need to finalize the budget and hire two more people. What do you think?"

Useful Discussion Phrases

Adding to someone's point:

"Building on what you said..."
"To add to that..."
"And another thing..."
"Also, I'd like to point out that..."

Changing the topic slightly:

"On a related note..."
"Speaking of which..."
"That reminds me..."
"While we're on this topic..."

Returning to the main point:

"Going back to what you said earlier..."
"To get back to the main point..."
"Anyway, as I was saying..."

Summarizing:

"So basically..."
"In other words..."
"What I'm trying to say is..."
"The point I'm making is..."

Practice Dialogues

Dialogue 1: Discussing a Movie (Casual)

Alex: Did you see that new superhero movie? I thought it was amazing! You: Hmm, I'm not so sure. I thought the special effects were great, but the story was kind of weak. Alex: Really? I thought the plot was pretty exciting. You: I see what you mean -- the action scenes were definitely exciting. But I felt like the characters weren't very interesting. They didn't have much depth. Alex: That's fair. I guess I was more focused on the visuals. You: Yeah, it was beautiful to watch. I'll give it that. Have you seen any other good movies lately?

Dialogue 2: Discussing a Plan (Semi-Formal)

Team lead: So, should we launch the product in June or wait until September? Colleague: I think June is better. We'll be first to market. You: I see your point about being first, but I'm not sure we're ready for June. We still need to finish testing, and rushing could cause quality issues. Colleague: That's true. But if we wait, our competitor might launch first. You: You have a point. How about a compromise? We could do a soft launch in June with a smaller group and a full launch in September. That way we're early but also prepared. Team lead: That's actually a great idea. What does everyone think?

Dialogue 3: Debating a Topic (Formal/Educational)

Teacher: What do you think about remote work? Is it better than working in an office? Student A: In my opinion, remote work is much better. You save time on commuting, and you can organize your day more flexibly. You: I partly agree. Remote work has many advantages, but I think working in an office has benefits too. For example, it's easier to collaborate with colleagues face to face. Also, some people find it hard to stay motivated at home. Student A: That's a good point about collaboration. But I believe technology has solved most of those problems. Video calls work pretty well. You: That's true to some extent. However, I feel that there's something about being in the same room that video calls can't replace. Maybe the best solution is a mix of both. Teacher: Interesting discussion! You both made excellent points.

Opinion Topics for Practice

Practice expressing opinions on these topics:

Is it better to learn English with a teacher or by yourself?
Should children use smartphones?
Is it important to learn a second language?
Which is better: living in a big city or a small town?
Should university education be free?
Is social media good or bad for society?
What is the best way to travel: by plane, train, or car?
Should people work four days a week instead of five?
Are video games a waste of time or a valuable hobby?
What makes a good leader?

For each topic, practice:

Stating your opinion
Giving at least two reasons
Anticipating the other side's argument
Responding to disagreement politely

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Being too direct with disagreement

Too blunt: "No, you're wrong."
Better: "I see your point, but I think there might be another way to look at it."

Mistake 2: Not giving reasons

Weak: "I disagree."
Stronger: "I disagree because I believe the data shows something different. For example..."

Mistake 3: Using "I think" for every sentence Vary your language. Use "I believe," "In my opinion," "It seems to me," and other phrases.

Mistake 4: Not acknowledging the other person's view Before disagreeing, always show you heard them: "That's an interesting point..." or "I understand where you're coming from..."

Practice Tips

Watch debate shows or panel discussions in English. Notice how speakers agree and disagree.
Practice the "opinion sandwich": acknowledge + disagree + offer alternative. "That's a great point. However, I think... For example..."
Discuss topics with a study partner. Take opposite sides of an issue, even if you actually agree.
Write opinion paragraphs about current topics. This helps you organize your thoughts before speaking.
Record yourself giving a 2-minute opinion on a topic. Listen back and notice which phrases you used.