Words (Core Vocabulary)
- opinion / view / perspective
- stance / position / belief
- think / feel / suppose / guess
- argue / claim / state
- agree / disagree / support / oppose / prefer
- concern / priority / reason / evidence / example
- fair / reasonable / valid / controversial
- sure / certain / convinced / unsure / on the fence
- balanced / neutral / preferable / appropriate
Phrases (From soft to strong)
Soft starters (polite)
- I think / I feel / I believe…
- I’m not sure, but…
- It seems to me that…
- From my perspective… / As I see it…
- Personally, I think… / In my experience…
Balanced & diplomatic
- On the one hand…, on the other hand…
- I see your point; however…
- That’s a fair point, but…
- I partly agree, though…
- At the same time… / Even so…
Clear structure
- My main point is that…
- The reason is…
- For example… / For instance…
- Therefore… / As a result…
- In short…
Stronger opinions
- I’m convinced that…
- I strongly/firmly believe…
- There’s no doubt that…
- We should… / People should…
Inviting views
- What do you think?
- How do you see it?
- Would you agree with that?
Contextual Examples (Natural, everyday)
- Personally, I think kids should learn basic cooking because it builds independence.
- I’m on the fence about electric cars—on the one hand they’re greener; on the other hand charging takes time.
- My main point is that the library is essential: free classes, computers, and quiet space.
Collocations & Phrases (bold the key words)
- express an opinion / share a view
- state your position / hold the view
- give a reason / provide an example
- support an argument / back up your point
- take a balanced view / weigh pros and cons
- strongly believe / have doubts
Canadian Cultural Context (Natural & polite)
- Start gently (“I think…”, “It seems…”) and acknowledge others before adding your view.
- Opinions land best when brief + backed by an example.
- Invite others in: “Does that make sense?” “What’s your take?”
Extra Mini-Patterns (plug-and-play)
- Starter + reason: “I think we should extend hours because evening demand is high.”
- Balance frame: “On the one hand it’s faster; on the other hand it costs more.”
- Summing up: “In short, this option is more affordable and easier to implement.”