Lesson

Expressing opinions 2

Advanced opinion expressions

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Expressing opinions: Advanced phrases

This lesson expands your repertoire of phrases to express opinions in English. You'll learn how to present views politely, hedge when unsure, show strong conviction when necessary, and adapt tone to formal or informal situations.

  • Learn diplomatic and direct opinion expressions.
  • Practice hedging to soften statements.
  • Adapt phrase choice to formal emails, meetings, and casual conversation.

Focus on tone: the same idea can sound very different depending on the phrase you choose.

Table

Opinion Expressions and Uses

Expression Use Example
In my opinion Neutral, appropriate for formal and informal contexts In my opinion, the project timeline is too optimistic.
It seems to me that Hedging: suggests uncertainty or polite suggestion It seems to me that we should review the contract again.
I'm inclined to think Soft certainty, personal leaning I'm inclined to think we should increase the marketing budget.
To be honest / Frankly Stronger, can sound blunt; use carefully in formal settings To be honest, I don't believe the forecast is realistic.
I see your point, but... Polite disagreement or partial agreement I see your point, but the data doesn't support that conclusion.
I couldn't agree more Strong agreement I couldn't agree more — the new strategy is excellent.
I'm not convinced Polite way to express doubt I'm not convinced that outsourcing is the best option.
If you ask me Informal, conversational opinion starter If you ask me, we should hire a consultant.
Personally, I'd say Personal view, slightly informal Personally, I'd say we delay the rollout by one month.
I'd go with Informal recommendation For this campaign, I'd go with a digital-first approach.

Tip

Key rule: Match phrase to tone

Choose expressions that match the level of certainty and the formality of the situation.

  • Formal/business: use neutral phrases (In my opinion; It seems to me that).
  • When unsure: hedge (It seems to me; I'm inclined to think).
  • Strong stance: use firm language but be aware of potential rudeness (I couldn't agree more; Frankly).
  • Informal settings: use conversational starters (If you ask me; I'd go with).

When in doubt in professional settings, prefer hedging and neutral phrases.

Example

Examples in context

In my opinion, the quarterly report needs more detailed forecasts.

I'm inclined to think we should hire a specialist for the audit.

I see your point, but I disagree about the proposed deadline.

To be honest, I'm not convinced the current approach will increase revenue.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

These mistakes are common for many learners. Watch for them when expressing opinions.

  • Being too blunt in professional situations (e.g., 'This is wrong' without softening).
  • Overusing the same phrase ('I think' in every sentence) which sounds repetitive.
  • Confusing certainty and opinion (stating opinions as facts).
  • Mixing formal and informal phrases in one sentence (e.g., 'Frankly, I reckon...').
  • Forgetting to provide reasons or evidence when making a professional opinion.

Aim for clarity and appropriate tone; back opinions with brief rationale in business contexts.

Quiz

Choose the most appropriate phrase to start a polite opinion in a formal email:

Hint: Choose a neutral, formal phrase suitable for professional emails.

Quiz

Complete: _____, the proposal needs more market research.

Hint: Think of a neutral phrase used to introduce a personal view.

Quiz

Choose the best hedging phrase when you are not certain:

Hint: Pick a phrase that expresses uncertainty politely.

Key Points

Expression

in my opinion

expression CEFR B1 //ɪn maɪ əˈpɪnjən//

a neutral phrase to introduce a personal view

In my opinion, we should prioritize customer feedback.

Expression

it seems to me

expression CEFR B2 //ɪt siːmz tuː miː//

a hedging phrase that suggests some uncertainty

It seems to me that the client prefers a simpler design.

Expression

to be honest / frankly

expression CEFR B2 //tə biː ˈɒnɪst/ /ˈfræŋkli//

phrases used to express a candid or direct opinion

To be honest, the proposal lacks a clear timeline.

Expression

I'm inclined to think

expression CEFR B2 //aɪm ɪnˈklaɪnd tuː θɪŋk//

shows a personal leaning toward an idea while keeping some uncertainty

I'm inclined to think we should test the product in one market first.

Expression

I see your point

expression CEFR B1 //aɪ siː jɔː pɔɪnt//

a phrase to acknowledge someone else's opinion before responding

I see your point, but we must also consider the budget.

GrammarPoint

hedge

verb/noun CEFR B2 //hɛdʒ//

to use language that makes statements less direct or certain

We often hedge opinions in reports to avoid overstatement.

Expression

I couldn't agree more

expression CEFR B2 //aɪ ˈkʊdənt əˈgriː mɔːr//

a strong phrase indicating full agreement

I couldn't agree more with your assessment of the risks.