Asking for Opinion

FUNCTIONS [1]

OPINION

Asking for Opinion

I was wondering where you stood on the question of ...... ?
What's your position on ...... ?
What's your opinion of ...... ?
What do you think of ...... ?
How do you feel about ...... ?

Giving Opinion

In my opinion ......
As far as I'm concerned......
From my point of view,......
As I see it ......
I think ......
In my view ......
It would seem to me that......
It seems to me that......
I feel ......
I believe ......
I figure that ......

Agreeing with an opinion

My view about this is positive.
I agree with this idea.
I agree completely with this idea.
I can't agree more.
I agree.
This idea is absolutely right.
I couldn't agree more on this.
I think this idea is perfect.

Partial agreement or polite disagreement

I agree partially with this idea.
This idea is partially right
I see what you mean, but ......
That's one way of looking at it, but ......
I see your point, but......
I agree with you, but ......
I think this idea is possible, but ......
I'm not sure you're right there.
I'm not sure that I agree with this idea.
The project is feasible, but ......

Disagreeing with an opinion

I think it is a bad idea.
I'm afraid I can't agree with this idea.
I'm afraid I entirely disagree with you.
I think this idea is impossible.
I guess this idea is impractical.
I see that this idea is bad.
I think it is a bad idea.
I don't agree with this idea.
I suppose this idea cannot be implemented.

Opinions are like brains, everybody has got one!!!!

FUNCTIONS [2]

A D V I C E

Random Examples

If I were you, I'd not buy this old computer.
Why don't you stay at home and watch TV?
You'd better go to bed early.
You ought to revise your lessons regularly.
If you take my advice, you'll tell your parents the truth.
You should drive slowly in town.
It might be a good idea to put on your coat. It's cold outside.
You should consider taking the keys before you leave.

"Advise and counsel him; if he does not listen, let adversity teach him."
~ Ethiopian proverb ~

FUNCTIONS [3]

SUGGESTING

Making suggestions

let's revise our lessons.
What about going to the cinema tonight?
How about playing cards?
Why don't we do our homework?
Couldn't we invite your grandmother to our party?
Shall we have a walk along the river?
What would you say to a cup of coffee?
Don't you think it is a good idea to watch TV?
Does it matter if we use your car?

Accepting

Ok. Yes, let's.
Yes, I'd like to
Yes, I'd love to.
What a good idea!
Why not?
Yes, with pleasure.
Yes, I feel like taking a walk.

Disagreeing

No, let's not.
No, I'd rather not.
I don't feel like it.
I dislike doing homework.
What an awful idea!

FUNCTIONS [4]

OFFERS

Making Offers:

Can I help you?
What shall I do for you?
Would you like me to check this computer for errors?
Shall I bring you aglass of water?
I'll buy you a coke. Shall I?
What/ Where/ Which ... would you like me to ...?

Accepting the offer:

How kind of you!
Yes, please do.
What a good idea!
Yes, please.
Thanks.
Yes.

Refusing the offer:

No, thank you.
No, don't bother.

FUNCTIONS [5]

INVITATION

I N V I T I N G

I was wondering whether you would stay for dinner.
I'm going to my uncle's wedding party next Sunday. Would you like to come,too?
Come along!
Why don't you come?
Will you come, too?
You must come over?
You must pay us a visit.
You must come back some time.
We must get in touch...
I'll give you a call and fix something.
Look me up next time you are around here.

Accepting the invitation

Ok. I'd like to!
Well, I'm free then. Thank you. I'd like to come.
Well, I'm not doing anything then.I'll come. Thanks.
I am not doing anything special then. Thank you. I'd like to come.
Ok!

Refusing the invitation

I'm afraid I can't. I'm busy then.
I'm sorry but I can't. I'm going somewhere.

FUNCTIONS [6]

COMPLAINING

I have a complaint to make. ......
I'm sorry to say this but ......
I want to complain about ......
I'm afraid I've got a complaint about ......
I'm angry about ......

Responding to a complaint

I'm so sorry, but this will never occur again.
I'm sorry, I promise never to ......
I'm really sorry, I'll do my atmost/best not to ......

APOLOGY

APOLOGIZING

I do apologize for ___ing ......
I must apologize for ___ing ......
I am so sorry for ___ing ......
I shouldn't have ......
It's all my fault.
I'm ashamed of ___ing ......
Please, forgive me for ___ing ......
I'm terribly sorry for ___ing ......
Pardon me for this ......
Please, forgive me for my ......
Please, accept my apologies for ____ing ......

Accepting the apology

That's all right.
Never mind
Don't apologize.
It doesn't matter.
Don't worry about it.
Don't mention it.
That's OK.
I quite understand.
You couldn't help it.
Forget about it.
Don't worry about it.
No harm done.

FUNCTIONS [7]

PROHIBITION

Expressing Prohibition

You aren't allowed to ......
You mustn't ......
It's forbidden ......
You aren't permitted to ......
You aren't to ......

EXAMPLES

You aren't allowed to smoke in public places.
It's forbidden to walk on the grass in public gardens.
You aren't to wear indecent clothes in the street.
You mustn't drive fast.
You aren't permitted to park your car here.

FUNCTIONS [8]

ARE YOU SURE?

Expressing Certainty

Yes, I'm certain.
Of course.
I'm positive my grandmother repairs the car.
She must be excellent at mechanics.
I'm absolutely sure.
It's certain that she is a good mechanic.

Expressing Probability

It is probable that my grandfater repairs the car.
I guess he is fit for the job.
I bet my grandmother is better than he is.
I expect / suppose they are good mechanics.
I dare say / should say / presume they know what they should do.
She may have repaired the car while you were out.
Ali may come any minute.
Maybe / perhaps the problem won't be serious.
It will probably rain this evening.
I'm likely to do the work myself.

Expressing Improbability

No, probably not.
I don't suppose my grandfather repairs the car.
I doubt my grandmother does, either.
S/he is unlikely to repair the car.
I don't think they can repair that car.
I'd be surprised if s/he repaired the car.
It's unlikely s/he will repair the car soon.

Expressing Possibility

My grandmother may repair the car.
Maybe she will repair it.
Perhaps she will repair it.
Possibly, she will repair it.
It's possible she will repair it alone.
She might repair it.
I suppose she might repair it.
There's a chance she'll repair it before sunset.

Expressing Impossibility

No, it's impossible.
She can't possibly repair it.
I'm sure she doesn't repair it.
She definitely doesn't repair it.
She certainly doesn't repair it.
There's no way she repairs it.

FUNCTIONS [9]

LIKES AND DISLIKES

Expressing Likes:

I like Couscous.
I enjoy eating couscous.
I love couscous.
I adore eating couscous.
I'm fond of couscous.

Expressing Dislikes:

I hate pizza.
I don't like pizza.
I can't bear pizza.
I can't stand pizza.
I dislike pizza.
I detest pizza.

EXPRESSING PREFERENCE

Asking about preference

Do you prefer tea or coffee?
Would you prefer tea or coffee?
Would you rather milk or Orange Juice?
Which would you prefer? Doing homework or watching TV?
Which would you rather, this bike or that one?
Would you prefer to stay here?
Would you rather have a drink?

Expressing Preference

I prefer tea (to coffee).
I'd prefer to have coffee.
I'd rather have tea.

EXAMPLES

I prefer doing my homework to waching television.
I'd prefer to go out than to stay with you.
I'd rather go to bed than see that boring film.
I'd prefer to sleep.
I'd rather sleep.

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FUNCTIONS [10]

NECESSITY

Expressing Necessity

Present

I have to buy some more eggs for my famous cake.
I have got to repair that old car of mine. (informal)
I must see the doctor soon because I don't feel well.
It is necessary that I take a taxi. I'm late.

Past

I had to work extra hours to pay my bills.

Future

I'll have to to borrow money.

Lack of necessity

Present

I don't have to drive fast.
I don't need to write the report myself. My secretary can do that for me.
I needn't buy all these things.

Past

I didn't have to tell him about my project.

Future

I won't have to revise my lessons. I learn them by heart.

FUNCTIONS [11]

EXPRESSING OBLIGATION

Expressing Obligation

It is obligatory

Present

Young people must obey their parents.
Students have to work hard.

Future

You must see the doctor.
You will have to see the doctor.

It is desirable

Present & Future

People should respect the law.
You ought to do your homework regularly.

It is undesirable

Present and Future

You shouldn't wear heavy clothes. It is not that cold.
You ought not to stay in bed all the time.

It is forbidden

Present and Future

You mustn't cheat in the exam.
You can't see that film. You are still a child.
You may not have two tickets but only one.

FUNCTIONS [13]

PERMISSION

Expressing Permission

It is allowed

Present & Future

You might vote if you are 18.
You may speak to the manager.
You could see me this afternoon. I'm free then.
You can put on my jacket.

It is not necessary

Present

You don't have to take your medicine if you feel better.

Future

You won't have to come early tomorrow. There won't be much to do.

It is not compulsory

Present & Future

You needn't answer all the questions. Three are enough.
You don't need to have a visa to go from a European country to another.

FUNCTIONS [14]

CAUSE / EFFECT

Expressing Cause & Effect

There are many ways to express cause and effect relationships. Take this for example

He didn't come because he wasn't invited.
Since he wasn't invited, he didn't come.

The cause of his absence is that he was not invited

He was not invited. So, the effect or the result of this is that "he didn't come". If he had been invited he would have come. But he was not invited, consequently he didn't come.

Free examples

She didn't attend the meeting since she was not interested.
I'm glad the children are out, for I have got a lot of work to do at home.
She didn't tell the police because of fear.
Owing to his carelessness, the man had an accident.
I'm sorry for being late.
Thanks for your attention.
He went to hospital because he was not feeling well.

* Now, pay attention to the following structures:

______
The cause of failure is laziness.
One reason for failure is laziness.
______
Failure is caused by laziness.
Successive failures are due to carelessness.
______
The effect of laziness is failure.
The consequence of laziness is failure.
The result of laziness is failure.
One effect/consequence/result of laziness is failure.
______
He is lazy. Because of this, he fails.
She is hardworking. So, she succeeds.
He wasted his time. Consequently he didn't succeed in his exams.
She works hard. Therefore, she always succeeds.
She works hard. As a result, she always gets good marks.
He never revises his lessons. As a consequence, the teacher always punishes him.

FUNCTIONS [16]

Useful Expressions

Explaining & Justifying

The aim of these web pages is to help students do some research.
The main reason behind the building of these web pages is to encourage students to seek knowledge everywhere, the internet included, so as to widen their scopes.
It seems to me evident that technology has already affected our mode of life.
It seems to me obvious that computers become a necessity in our modern life.
Taking into consideration factors like unemployment and the fierce competition in the labor market, then students are to seek knowledge everywhere, and should not rely on school sources only. They aren't enough.
All things considered, I think students have to do their best to use the internet for their school projects.

FUNCTIONS [17]

Asking For Clarification

In order to avoid misunderstanding one has to ask for clarification to make sure one understands the message in the right way. If one is asked for clarification one has to give it and check for understanding. Here are some useful expressions you can use in both situations:

Requesting Clarification

FORMAL

Excuse me. What was that again?
Pardon me. Would you mind repeating that?
Pardon me. Could you repeat that please?
I beg your pardon. Would you mind repeating that?
I’m sorry. I didn’t get the last part.
May I interrupt? Could you say that again please?

INFORMAL

What? I didn’t catch that.
What did you say? I didn’t get the last part.
Huh? (impolite) You lost me.
I didn’t get that. Can you make yourself clear?
I am completely in the dark.

Asking for clarification for better understanding

If I understand the terms correctly...... Is that right?
Could you elaborate on that?
Do you mean......
I was under the impression that......
Let me see if I have that right...... Is that so?
Use Question Tags.
I can’t understand......
I am not sure I got your point.
Would you clarify that a little, please?

Giving Clarification and checking for understanding.

FORMAL

I mean that......
What I mean is that....
Does that make sense to you?
Am I making sense?
Am I clear enough?
Do you get that?
Have I made myself clear?
Do you see what I mean?
Do you understand so far?
Are you following me?

INFORMAL

Did you catch that?
Do you understand?
Is that clear now?
Right?
Okay, so far?
Did you get that?
Got it?

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