Lesson

Expressing opinions 1

Basic opinion expressions

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Expressing opinions: common phrases

This lesson covers common ways to express your opinion clearly and appropriately in professional situations. You will learn fixed expressions, polite softeners, and where to place these phrases in a sentence.

  • Use neutral phrases for professional contexts: I think, I believe, In my opinion.
  • Use hedging to be polite: I would say, It seems to me, Perhaps.
  • Place opinion phrases at the start, middle, or end depending on emphasis.

Table

Common opinion expressions (formality & examples)

Expression Formality Example
I think (that)... Neutral I think we should prioritize the client’s request.
I believe (that)... Formal I believe the proposal meets our strategic objectives.
In my opinion,... Formal In my opinion, we need to revise the budget.
Personally,... Informal/Neutral Personally, I prefer the second design concept.
It seems to me that... Polite/Hedging It seems to me that the timeline is optimistic.
I would say... Hedging/Neutral I would say we need one more week to test the product.
From my perspective,... Formal From my perspective, customer satisfaction should be our priority.
If you ask me,... Informal If you ask me, we should hire an additional analyst.

Tip

Key rule: match tone and structure

Choose the phrase that fits the level of formality and then decide how strong you want the opinion to sound.

  • Use simple present + clause for opinions: I think (that) + clause.
  • Use hedging verbs/phrases (I would say, It seems to me) to soften your stance.
  • Place opinion phrases at the start for emphasis, in the middle for natural flow, or at the end for a conversational tone.

In business contexts, prefer neutral or hedged language to sound professional.

Example

Examples in context

I think we should allocate more budget to marketing next quarter.

In my opinion, the client’s feedback should change the product roadmap.

It seems to me that we need clearer KPIs for this campaign.

Personally, I would prioritize customer service improvements first.

Tip

Common mistakes when expressing opinions

Learners often make mechanical or tone mistakes when sharing opinions. Watch for these universal errors:

  • Using continuous tense for general opinions: avoid "I am thinking" when you mean a stable opinion.
  • Wrong word order or unnecessary words: "I think that we to hire" is incorrect.
  • Being too direct in formal contexts: avoid absolute words without hedging (always, never) when uncertain.
  • Mixing up verbs after modal verbs: after should/would use base verb (should hire, not should to hire).

Focus on verb forms and tone: simple structures + hedging are safest in business English.

Quiz

Choose the correct sentence:

Hint: Check punctuation and the verb form after 'should'.

Quiz

Complete: _____ we should extend the deadline by one week.

Hint: Use a simple phrase to introduce a personal opinion.

Quiz

Which sentence is the most polite/soft in tone?

Hint: Look for hedging language and softened verbs.

Key Points

Expression

I think

expression CEFR A2 //aɪ θɪŋk//

A common neutral phrase to introduce a personal opinion.

I think the new feature will improve retention.

Expression

In my opinion

expression CEFR B1 //ɪn maɪ əˈpɪnjən//

A more formal way to state your personal view.

In my opinion, we should revise the contract terms.

Expression

Personally

adverb CEFR B1 //ˈpɜːrsənəli//

Introduces a personal preference or view, often less formal.

Personally, I would choose option B for the launch.

Expression

It seems to me

expression CEFR B2 //ɪt siːmz tuː miː//

A hedging phrase that softens an opinion and shows modesty.

It seems to me that the schedule is too tight.

GrammarPoint

Hedging

noun CEFR B2 //ˈhɛdʒɪŋ//

Language used to soften statements or reduce certainty (e.g., may, might, I would say).

We might need more time, I would say.

Expression

I would say

expression CEFR B1 //aɪ wʊd seɪ//

A polite phrase to offer an opinion, often used as a soft suggestion.

I would say we focus on customer retention first.