Asking and Giving Opinions

UNIT 13: ASKING FOR & GIVING OPINIONS
Asking for opinions and giving opinions are to describe how we are to ask the
opinions of others and how we provide opinions to others. Our opinion about
something is what we think or believe about it. In communication, sometime we need
someone's opinion to overcome our problem because we feel difficult to solve.
Besides, discussion is more interesting when people have different opinions on a
subject. Here are some ways to encourage a good discussion.
1. Useful tips
* When you ask for people’s opinions, you should ask questions that
encourage a response.
Asking for opinions by the open-ended questions is a good way for you to
include others in a discussion.
Open-ended questions for asking for opinions begin in very specific ways. They
begin with the following words: why, how, what, tell me about..., or what do you
think about... When using open-ended questions, you will obtain deep,
meaningful, and thoughtful answers. Asking questions in this way invites people
to open up, because you are showing that you are interested in what they have to
say.
You shouldn't use closed-ended questions because these questions typically

provide inadequate answers as well. Absolutely, closed-ended questions will
make it difficult to build conversation and they can bring a conversation to a
screeching halt. Closed-ended questions also have a specific language. To avoid
these questions, you shouldn't ask the questions in the form Yes/ No like Do
you ..., Are you ..., Could you ..., Have you ..., Would you ...,etc.
Below are some expressions to ask for opinions we recommend.
Formal Informal
• What are your thoughts on ...? • What do you think of …?

• What is your reaction to …? • What do you think about …?
• What is your opinion about …? • Why do you …?
• What are your feeling about …? • What do you reckon?
• What are your views on …? • How do you like?
• Please give me your frank opinion? • How do you think of…?
• How do you feel about …?
• Please tell me your opinion on ...
E.g. – What is your opinion about my homework?
- Please give me your frank opinion about the best way to learn English.
- What do you think about my jacket?
- How do you feel about World Cup 2018?
- What are your feeling about the distance learning for students?
* When you give your own opinions, you should use neutral statements to
make your opinions sound less forceful.
There are so many ways to give an opinion in English and it’s important that how
you use them. The way you choose to give an opinion can alter the way people
think of you and look at you every day. Neutral opinion giving is the most
common form of opinion giving used by people. So it is advisable that you
should use neutral statements to make sure they know that it is just your opinion.
They are also used to express your politeness and your act in a very reserved and
careful manner so you will not offend people.
Below are some expressions to give personal opinions we recommend.
Formal Informal
• I personally believe … • I think/ don’t think …

• I personally consider … • I think it’s good/nice/terrific …
• I personally think /feel … • I think that awful/ not nice/ terrible …
• I hold the opinion … • I don’t think much of it.
• My own view of the matter is … • I think that …
• Well, personally … • In my opinion …
• If I had my view, I would … • In my case …
 To be honest … • What I’m more concerned with …
• What I have in my mind is …
• The way I see it is that …
• No everyone will agree with me, but …
• To my mind …
• From my point of view …
E.g. - I don’t think it will help the economy too much.
- In my opinion, it caused by forest fired and human greed.
- To be honest, your new marketing plan will be quite difficult to succeed.
- From my point of view, this looks like a very good deal.
- I personally believe; walking away from this deal would be a significant

misstep.
NOTE:
 Informal Expressions are used in a situation where you are talking between
friends or close friends.
 Formal Expressions are used in a situation where you are talking in a formal
situation, such as in the office or school between the teacher and students.
* Sometimes you need to give a strong opinion to make an impact.

When you are sure about something or feel strongly about a certain topic, or you
are trying to convince people, it is sometimes necessary to give a very strong
opinion. Remember, words are powerful, so with the below expressions you can
transmit to the other people that you have a lot of conviction or feel strongly
about the opinion you are giving.
Below are some expressions to give strong opinions we recommend.
Strong Not strong
 I sincerely/ really  I think …  In my experience …

believe that ...  I feel that …  I don’t know about
 I am absolutely  In my opinion other people, but I can
convinced that ... say …
 As far as I’m concerned
 It seems clear to me …  What I’ve found is …
that ...  In my view  As I see it…
 There is absolutely no  I tend to think that …
doubt that ...
 I suppose that …
 To be perfectly
 It seems to me that …
frank, ...
 I must admit that I’m
not sure …
E.g. - I really believe that it doesn’t help us at all.  Maybe the others in
discussion feel your statement quite true, then they will consider the
problem again to make the better solution.
2. Exercise
Exercise a. Complete the sentences with the words in the box
guess | opinion | mind | feel | see | think | how | concerned
1. I guess it is going to rain today because the sky is cloudy.

2. The way I see it that it was a fair trade.
3. I think the best way to learn English is to practice it every day because
you will get used to speaking and listening to English.
4. What is your opinion about cause environment disturbance?
5. Well, to my mind, environment in Thailand is good, but must need more
to give attention on cleanness.
6. How about seeing a movie tonight?
7. How do you feel about the last final exam?
8. What I’m more concerned with the recycling issue.

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UNIT 13: ASKING FOR & GIVING OPINIONS

You shouldn't use closed-ended questions because these questions typically

Below are some expressions to ask for opinions we recommend.

• What are your thoughts on ...? • What do you think of …?

E.g. – What is your opinion about my homework?

- What do you think about my jacket?

- How do you feel about World Cup 2018?

Below are some expressions to give personal opinions we recommend.

• I personally believe … • I think/ don’t think …

E.g. - I don’t think it will help the economy too much.

- In my opinion, it caused by forest fired and human greed.

- To be honest, your new marketing plan will be quite difficult to succeed.

- From my point of view, this looks like a very good deal.

- I personally believe; walking away from this deal would be a significant

* Sometimes you need to give a strong opinion to make an impact.

Strong Not strong

 I sincerely/ really  I think …  In my experience …

guess | opinion | mind | feel | see | think | how | concerned

1. I guess it is going to rain today because the sky is cloudy.

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