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English Phrases for Giving Your Opinion

Saying what you think is a big part of every conversation, from choosing a restaurant to a meeting at work. These phrases help you give your opinion clearly, ask for other people's views and soften your words so you never sound rude.

35 phrases · By LearnLingo Team · Updated

Tap to hear a phrase. Levels follow the CEFR scale. American English is the default; British variants are noted.

Saying what you think

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

I think it's a great idea.

A1

"I think" is the most common and natural way to give an opinion.

Bence harika bir fikir.
  • Me too.
  • Really? Why do you think so?

I don't think it's a good idea.

A2

English puts "not" on "think": say "I don't think it's good", not "I think it's not good".

Bence iyi bir fikir değil.
  • Why not?
  • You might be right.

In my opinion, the first option is better.

A2

A little more formal than "I think". Good for meetings and writing.

Bana göre ilk seçenek daha iyi.
  • I see your point.
  • What makes it better?

Personally, I prefer the blue one.

A2
Şahsen ben maviyi tercih ediyorum.
  • Really? I like the green one.

I feel like we should wait.

B1

Very common in casual American English.

Bana kalırsa beklemeliyiz.
  • Yeah, maybe you're right.

If you ask me, it's too expensive.

B1

Informal. Use it with friends and colleagues you know well.

Bana sorarsan çok pahalı.
  • I was thinking the same thing.

I'm pretty sure it was on Friday.

A2
Cuma günü olduğundan oldukça eminim.
  • Are you sure? I thought it was Thursday.

I'm convinced this is the right choice.

B2

Shows a very strong opinion.

Bunun doğru seçim olduğuna eminim.
  • What convinced you?

Asking for an opinion

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

What do you think?

A1
Sen ne düşünüyorsun?
  • I think it's fine.
  • Honestly, I'm not sure.

What do you think of my new haircut?

A2

Use "think of" or "think about", never just "think" before a noun.

Yeni saç kesimim hakkında ne düşünüyorsun?
  • It really suits you!

How do you feel about working from home?

B1
Evden çalışmak hakkında ne düşünüyorsun?
  • I love it, to be honest.
  • It has pros and cons.

What's your take on this?

B2

Informal and common at work in American English.

Bu konuda senin görüşün ne?
  • My take is that we need more time.

Do you think it'll work?

A2
Sence işe yarar mı?
  • I hope so.
  • I doubt it.

Which one would you choose?

A2
Sen hangisini seçerdin?
  • I'd go for the cheaper one.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

B1

Polite and friendly. Common in meetings and emails.

Düşüncelerini duymak isterim.
  • Sure. I think it looks good overall.

Softening your opinion

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

I might be wrong, but I think it's too long.

B1

Softening is very important in English, especially at work.

Yanılıyor olabilirim ama bence çok uzun.
  • No, I agree. We should cut it.

It seems to me that they're not ready.

B1
Bana öyle geliyor ki hazır değiller.
  • Yeah, I get that impression too.

I'm not sure it's the best option.

B1

A polite way to say you disagree without saying "no".

Bunun en iyi seçenek olduğundan emin değilim.
  • What would you suggest instead?

It might be a bit too expensive.

A2

"A bit" makes criticism sound gentler. UK speakers use it a lot.

Biraz fazla pahalı olabilir.
  • Yes, maybe we can find a cheaper one.

To be honest, I'm not a big fan.

B1
Açıkçası pek hoşlandığım söylenemez.
  • Fair enough. What don't you like about it?

I see your point, but I see it a bit differently.

B2
Ne demek istediğini anlıyorum ama ben biraz farklı görüyorum.
  • Okay, how do you see it?

Don't get me wrong, I like it.

B1

Usually followed by "but" and a small criticism.

Beni yanlış anlama, beğeniyorum.
  • But?

Giving reasons and examples

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

The main reason is the price.

A2
Asıl sebep fiyat.
  • That makes sense.

That's why I think we should go by train.

A2
Bu yüzden trenle gitmemiz gerektiğini düşünüyorum.
  • Good point.

For example, the last meeting ran over by an hour.

B1
Mesela son toplantı bir saat uzadı.
  • True, that was frustrating.

On the one hand it's cheap, but on the other hand it's far.

B1

Use the pair to compare two sides of the same idea.

Bir yandan ucuz ama öte yandan uzak.
  • So it's hard to decide.

The way I see it, we don't have much choice.

B2
Benim gördüğüm kadarıyla pek seçeneğimiz yok.
  • You're probably right.

Overall, I'd say it was worth it.

B1
Genel olarak buna değdi diyebilirim.
  • I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Staying neutral or changing your mind

EnglishTurkishYou might hear

I'm not sure, to be honest.

A2
Açıkçası emin değilim.
  • That's okay. Think about it.

I don't really have an opinion on that.

B1
Bu konuda pek bir fikrim yok.
  • Fair enough.

It depends on the situation.

A2
Duruma bağlı.
  • Depends on what?

I'd rather not say.

B1

A polite way to avoid a sensitive topic like politics or money.

Söylememeyi tercih ederim.
  • No problem, I understand.

Let me think about it.

A2
Biraz düşüneyim.
  • Sure, take your time.

Actually, I've changed my mind.

A2
Aslında fikrimi değiştirdim.
  • Oh, why is that?

You've got a point there.

B1
Bu konuda haklısın.
  • Thanks. I'm glad you see it that way.

Sample dialogues

Choosing a team dinner place

Mark
We need to book somewhere for the team dinner. What do you think?
Ekip yemeği için bir yer ayırtmamız lazım. Sen ne düşünüyorsun?
Zeynep
Personally, I'd go for the Italian place near the office.
Şahsen ben ofisin yakınındaki İtalyan restoranını seçerdim.
Mark
Why that one?
Neden orası?
Zeynep
The main reason is that everyone can walk there.
Asıl sebep herkesin oraya yürüyerek gidebilmesi.
Mark
Good point. I might be wrong, but isn't it a bit small?
Haklısın. Yanılıyor olabilirim ama orası biraz küçük değil mi?
Zeynep
Hmm, you've got a point there. It depends on how many people come.
Hmm, bu konuda haklısın. Kaç kişinin geleceğine bağlı.
Mark
Let's ask the team first, then decide.
Önce ekibe soralım, sonra karar verelim.
Zeynep
Sounds good to me.
Bana uyar.

Talking about a movie

Ayşe
So, what did you think of the movie?
Eee, film hakkında ne düşündün?
Ben
Don't get me wrong, I liked it, but it was way too long.
Beni yanlış anlama, beğendim ama fazlasıyla uzundu.
Ayşe
Really? I feel like every scene was important.
Gerçekten mi? Bana her sahne önemliymiş gibi geldi.
Ben
For example, the car chase went on forever.
Mesela araba kovalamacası bitmek bilmedi.
Ayşe
Okay, I see your point. That part was a bit long.
Tamam, ne demek istediğini anlıyorum. O kısım biraz uzundu.
Ben
But overall, I'd say it was worth watching.
Ama genel olarak izlemeye değdi diyebilirim.
Ayşe
Definitely. The ending was amazing.
Kesinlikle. Sonu harikaydı.

Common mistakes Turkish speakers make

According to me, it's a good plan.

In my opinion, it's a good plan.

Turkish "bana göre" translates word for word as "according to me", but English uses "according to" only for other people or sources, never for yourself.

I think it's not a good idea.

I don't think it's a good idea.

English usually makes "think" negative, not the verb after it. "I think it's not" sounds unnatural and too direct.

What do you think about? Is it good?

What do you think of it? Is it good?

"Think about" and "think of" need an object. Say "What do you think of it?" or simply "What do you think?"

I am thinking it's a good idea.

I think it's a good idea.

When "think" means "have an opinion", it is a state verb, so it is not used in the continuous form, even though Turkish says "düşünüyorum".

You are wrong.

I see it a bit differently.

"You are wrong" sounds very rude in English. Native speakers soften disagreement and talk about their own view instead.

Quick quiz

Eight questions to check what you remember. Pick an answer to see if it is right.

  1. 1. Which phrase is NOT natural for giving your own opinion?

  2. 2. Choose the most natural sentence:

  3. 3. Which question asks for someone's opinion?

  4. 4. Which phrase softens your opinion the most?

  5. 5. "What's your take on this?" means:

  6. 6. Complete: "Don't get me ___, I like it."

  7. 7. You want to avoid answering a question about politics. You say:

  8. 8. Which linker introduces two sides of an idea?

0 of 8 answered

Show all answers
  1. According to me
  2. I don't think it's expensive.
  3. How do you feel about it?
  4. I might be wrong, but I'm not sure this works.
  5. What's your opinion?
  6. wrong
  7. I'd rather not say.
  8. On the one hand

See what the B1 English course covers, or test your level first.

People also ask

What is the most common way to give an opinion in English?+

"I think" is by far the most common. "In my opinion" is a little more formal, and "I feel like" is very common in casual American English.

Why do English speakers soften their opinions so much?+

Direct statements like "This is wrong" can sound aggressive in English. Small words such as "a bit", "maybe" and "I'm not sure" keep the conversation friendly, especially at work.

Can I say "according to me"?+

No. Use "in my opinion", "I think" or "personally". Keep "according to" for other people and sources, as in "according to the news".

How is giving opinions different from agreeing and disagreeing?+

Giving an opinion is stating your own view or asking for someone else's. Agreeing and disagreeing is reacting to a view that someone has already shared. LearnLingo has a separate phrasebook for that.

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