Phrases for Asking and Giving

Opinions Like a Native Speaker

March 15, 2019/ Steven Hobson / Business English, English Meetings, Speaking

If you need to speak English during meetings, business lunches, or in any type of
general conversation, you will probably spend a percentage of this time asking and
giving opinions.
If you are a naturally curious person, or you welcome the suggestions of others, you will
often ask for the opinions of others. And if you enjoy expressing your ideas, giving your
opinion is something you will do regularly.
So if asking and giving opinions is an important part of the language we use, it makes
sense to learn a few different ways to give and express opinions.

You see, when you reach an intermediate to advanced level of English, you have a solid
foundation of the language and are able to deal with most conversational situations.
But to start sounding more native-like and speaking with a bit more variety, you need to
stop relying only on the tried and trusted phrases which you have always used, like ”I
think..”. or “In my opinion…”, and try out some different expressions for asking and
giving opinions.
In this article, I teach you “native-like” expressions for asking and giving
opinions, responding to opinions, agreeing and disagreeing, and lastly, expressing
reservations. After learning a handful of these phrases, you will speak with more
variety and sound more like a native speaker.
Let’s take a look…

Asking for Opinions

How do you feel about that?
What is your point of view?
David, I would really appreciate your view.
Have you got any thoughts on this?
Do you have any views on this?
Does anyone have any other comments?

Responding to Opinions
I see what you mean.
You’ve got a point there.
That’s a very good point.
That’s a great suggestion.
That’s one way of looking at it.

Expressing Opinions
Strong
I believe…
I’m convinced that…
I’m sure that…
I have no doubt…
There’s no doubt in my mind that…
I’m quite certain that…
Medium
I think…
Well, if you ask me…
I’d like to point out that…
As I see it…
In my opinion…
Weak
I feel that…
My impression is that…
I am not sure but I am leaning towards…
I tend to think…

Agreeing
Strong
Absolutely.
Exactly.
I totally agree with you.
I have exactly the same opinion as you.
You have hit the nail on the head. (idiom)
Medium
I agree to a certain extent.
I am with you up to a point.
I agree partly.
I guess you’re right.

Disagreeing
Strong
I totally disagree.
I’m afraid I can’t agree with you there.
With respect, I have to say I don’t agree.
I disagree entirely.
I can’t go along with that at all.
It’s out of the question.
I understand what you are saying, but I have a different opinion.
Medium
I agree with you to a point but I disagree about…
I know what you mean but…
I don’t really agree with you.
I think it might be better to…
I’d be inclined to think the opposite.
Expressing Reservations
I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.
Don’t you think that…?
I’m concerned that…
I’m not entirely convinced that…

Conclusion
I suggest choosing a few expressions which you like and are comfortable with, then
practice saying them. Then, record yourself and play it back to check whether you are
saying them correctly.
What really helps you remember these phrases is when you use them in real-life
situations. So when you next have a meeting or conversation in English, try to use these
new expressions when the opportunity comes up.

Would you like more phrases like these? Get instant access to your free
ebook. “200 Native Speaker Expressions for English Meetings.”
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TAGS Asking and Giving OpinionsBusiness MeetingsLearn EnglishSpeak English

Author: Steven Hobson

Steven is a business English coach, a certified life coach, writer, and
entrepreneur. He helps international professionals build confidence and
improve fluency speaking English in a business environment.