Expressing Opinions

To express opinions, we can use some of phrases below, especially they are appropriate for written
English. However, some can also be used in Spoken English. Sometimes opinion and belief are mixed up.
Here are the definitions:
A belief is an idea or conviction that someone accepts as true or real. Some people, for example, believe
that walking under a ladder is bad luck. Can this be proven? Probably not. But the person may still
believe it true. Another person may believe in certain gods, while others do not. For them, these beliefs
are like facts.
An opinion is a statement or idea that tells how a person feels about something. If your friend says,
"Pizza is the best food in the world," he or she is stating an opinion. However, opinions supported by facts
are more convincing. If your friend took a survey and discovered that more people ate pizza than any
other food, he would have some support for his opinion. In that case we can conclude that opinion may be
the result of a person's perspective, understanding, particular feelings, beliefs, and desires. It may refer to
unsubstantiated information, in contrast to knowledge and fact-based beliefs.

Expressing opinion can come from either personal point of view or general point of view.

Personal Point of View

We use these words and phrases to express a personal point of view:
 In my experience…
 As far as I'm concerned…
 Speaking for myself…
 In my opinion…
 Personally, I think…
 I'd say that…
 I'd suggest that…
 I'd like to point out that…
 I believe that…
 What I mean is…

General Point of View

Use these words and phrases to express a point of view that is generally thought by people:
 It is thought that...

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  Some people say that...
 It is considered...
 It is generally accepted that...

If you agree with one’s opinion, use these words:

 Of course.
 Yes, I agree.
 I think so too.
 That's a good point.
 Exactly.
 I don't think so either.
 So do I.
 I'd go along with that.
 That's true.
 Neither do I.
 I agree with it entirely.
 That's just what I was thinking.
 I couldn't agree more.
 Precisely
 Totally
 Absolutely!
 That’s right!
 Correct!

But, if you disagree with one’s opinion, use these words:

 That's different.
 I don't agree with it.
 However…
 That's not entirely true.
 On the contrary…
 I'm sorry to disagree with it, but…

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  Yes, but don't you think…
 That's not the same thing at all.
 I'm afraid I have to disagree.
 I'm not so sure about that.
 It's unjustifiable to say that...
 I don’t think so!
 I disagree
 I’m afraid I can’t agree
 Definitely not!
 Rubbish!
 Nonsense!
 That’s ridiculous!
 Never in a million years!
 Using irony to express disagreement
 Come off it!
 Come on!
 Do you really think so?
 What!
 You can’t actually mean that!
 You can’t be serious!
 Are you pulling my leg?
 Are you kidding?
 You must be kidding!
Dismissing an argument as irrelevant or
 improbable
 That isn’t the point
 That’s highly debatable
 That’s highly unlikely

You can disagree diplomatically (through doubt)

 I wonder whether that’s the case

 Hmmm, I’m not sure about that..
 I’m not sure (that) it works like that
 I’m not so sure about that
 I’m not so certain
 Well, I’m not sure whether you can really ...
 Well, I don’t know...

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 Well, it depends...
 I’m inclined to disagree with that...
 Disagreeing in part ( appeal to logic )
 Not necessarily
 That doesn’t necessarily follow
 That’s not necessarily true
 That isn’t strictly true

You can counter politely (through partial agreement):

 That may be so
, but ...
 That may be true
but ...
 That may be so, but ...
 That might have been the case once, but...
 Well, maybe they do, but ...
 You may be right about ..., but....
 Maybe...But the problem is...
 That’s a good idea, but...
 That’s a good point, but...
 I’d love to, but...
 That would be great, except that...
 That may be so, but...
 Possibly, but... what I’m concerned with is...
 ..., but what I’m afraid of is...
 ..., but what bothers me is...
 ..., but what I don’t like is...
 ..., but what I’m concerned with is...

Modal verbs can be used for giving opinion in formal situations.

Should-shouldn’t often follows I think or I don't think.
For exampleS: -You look tired. I think you should take a few days off.
-The honorable my teacher and friends, The first factor of smoking is bad habit is contain
poison substance. We should not consume cigarettes because it is not good for health.

Here are examples of opinions taken from some sources:

Re: Polygamy: What's your opinion?

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 My opinion is that I don't care. If people have open relationships or committed relationships with multiple
partners, it's not for me to judge them. So long as all the parties are aware of each other and its
consensual, I don't care.

Myself, I can only see myself with a single person. I'm very monogamous, but I personally can
understand how it might not be for everyone.
__________________

http://emptyclosets.com/forum/chit-chat/64054-polygamy-whats-your-opinion.html

What’s your opinion about facebook?

-I think it is a good waste of my time and energy. I was on it a while back and have since realized that
some peoples addiction to the site is ridiculous!

EXERCISES
Exercise 1.
LOOK AT THE PICTURES AND GIVE YOUR OPINIONS!

1. I think ____________________
2.

: He has got 4 wives. How do you feel about that?

___________________________
3.

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 According to the expert, I _____________________________

4. In my opinion, TWILIGHT FOREVER ___________________________

Exercise 2
Choose should or shouldn't. As a guidance, pay attention to the Indonesian version.
 You be so selfish. (Kamu seharusnya jangan egois)

 ___________________________________________________

 I don't think you smoke so much. (Kupikir seharusnya kamu jangan banyak merokok)

 __________________________________________________________

 You exercise more.(Seharusnya kamu banyak berolahraga)

 ___________________________________________________________

 I think you try to speak to her. (Kupikir kamu seharusnya mencoba berbicara dengannya)

 ___________________________________________________________

 You are overweight. You go on a diet. (Seharusya kamu berdiet)

__________________________________________________________________

 Where we park our car? (Dimana seharusnya kita parkir mobil kita?)

____________________________________________________________________

 You never speak to your mother like this. (Seharusnya kamu jangan pernah berbicara
seperti ini pada ibumu)

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  ___________________________________________________________

 The kids spend so much time in front of the TV.(Seharusnya anak-anak jangan habiskan
banyak waktu di depan TV.)

 ___________________________________________________________

 I think we reserve our holiday in advance. (Kurasa kita harus pesan di muka liburan kita)
 _____________________________________________________________

II. COMPLETE THESE SENTENCES WITH WORDS IN THE BOX!

Trim medical qualified contact tendension mean misunderstanding disagree

1. ‘I think George tends to talk too much.’ ‘I’ve noticed that__________too.
2. ‘I think you misunderstood what Susan was saying.’ ‘No, there was no
misunderstanding on my side.’
3. ‘I think it’s going to rain.’ ‘I agree.’ ‘But I disagree . I think it’s going to snow.’
4. ‘You look ill. I think you should get a medical examination.’
5. ‘I don’t think Peter is well qualified for this job.’
6. ‘Don’s beard isn’t very tidy. I think he should Trim it.
7. In my opinion, he was lying because he avoided eye contact.
8. I think giving smile to her doesn’t mean I love her.

References:

http://www.waupun.k12.wi.us/Policy/other/dickhut/religions/03%20Belief%20Fact%20Opinion.html

http://www.vocabulary.cl/Lists/Opinions.htm

http://penggunaantensesgrammarbahasainggris.blogspot.com/2011/02/contoh-percakapan-dialog-giving-opinion.html

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