"Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things, but learning another way to think about things."

Flora Lewis

How to Express Your Opinion


       

Words to express your opinion: believe, think, argue, feel, reckon, opinion, view, convinced, etc

 

Informal way of expressing your opinion:

  • I think
  • I believe
  • I reckon

Formal way of stating your opinion:

  • In my opinion
  • In my view

More formal way of expressing your view:

  • It is believed that...
  • It is thought that...

More phrases to voice your opinion:

  • I'm convinced that - very strong feeling that you are right
  • I've always held that - used for very firm beliefs
  • I maintain - insist in believing
  • I feel - strong personal opinion
  • I reckon - informal, usually an opinion on what is likely to be
  • I doubt - don't believe
  • to my mind - fairly informal
  • If you ask me - informal
  • I am of the same mind = I agree
  • I am relanctant to draw conclusions = I am no sure about...
  • I am still troubled = I am worried
  • I have a hunch = I strongly susupect
  • I have a different take on it = I diagree
  • I was immediately struck by = I was surprised
  • I still hold out hope = I am optimistic
  • I think you have to take it as a given = it is acceptable to think that...
  • I was taken aback = I was completely surprised
  • I lean forward = I think there is more truth in the idea
  • I go along with = I have the same idea
  • I was won over = I was convinced
  • I point to = I regard
  • I am puzzled over = I am confused
  • I rule out = I say no
  • It is written off = it is dismissed
  • I bear out = I confirm
  • I fathomed out = I understood

Mind the prepositions that are used with the words to state opinion:
a view on smth/smb
to think of smth/smb
to be in faivour of smth/smb
to have doubts about smth/smb

Modal Verb to express opinion:
-used to make the statement less definite
-used for recommending or advising

  • would
  • should
  • could
  • might

Statement expressing facts vs opinion
1. 50,000 will die - expressing fact
2. 50,000 might die - expressing opinion

1. I do not think that small amounts of sunlight increase the risk of cancer - expressing opinion
2. Small amounts of sunlight do not increase the risk of cancer - expressing fact

1. I believe that vitamin D deficience might become common among adults - expressing opinion
2. Vitamin D deficiency will affact 25% of adults - expressing fact

Adjectives to describe smb's beliefs:

  • fanatical=obsessive
  • eccentric=odd
  • conservative=traditional
  • middle-of-the-road=moderate
  • dedicated=committed
  • firm=strong

 

 

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