63 I can give my opinion
A Asking for and giving opinions
A Apparently,
the government wants to increase the number of young people going to
university. What do you think about that?
B Personally, I think it’s a good idea. People should have the chance to go to
university.
A Maybe, but it seems to me we need more people with manual skills, not more academics. And why haven’t we
got those people? It’s the government’s fault.
B You think the government is to blame for everything. But don’t you reckon it’s a good idea, in principle, for more young people to
have a better education?
Glossary
apparently based on what you have heard or read.
What do you think about...? is used to ask sb’s opinion about a general topic (also How do you feel about...? We usually use think of when asking about a person or thing, e.g. What do you think of his new book?)
fault responsibility for a mistake.
be to blame for
sth be responsible for sth bad (e.g. He’s to
blame for the accident. = The accident is his fault.)
reckon (that) sth INF think or have an opinion about sth.
in principle in general, but perhaps not in all the
details. SYN in theory.
issue a problem or subject for discussion.
the point is the most important part
of what I’m saying is.
spotlight giving opinions
I think (that)…, Personally, I think (that)..., and It seems to me..., are common ways of giving opinions. You may also hear In my opinion... FML, As far as I’m concerned..., and If you ask me....
1 Write the words in the correct order.
► issue / reckon / it’s / important / I / an
I reckon it’s an important issue.
1 think / this / you / idea / do / what / of ?
________________
2 I / it’s / think / good / personally / a / idea
________________
3 agree / in / it / principle / I / with
________________
4 choice / to / it / no / seems / we / have / me
________________
5 it / disaster / if / me / ask / a / you / was
________________
1 What do you think of this idea?
2 Personally, I think it's a good idea.
3 I agree with it in principle.
4 It seems to me we have no choice.
5 If you ask me, it was a disaster.
2 Rewrite the opinions using the words on the right. The meaning must stay the same.
► I think it’ll be difficult. EASY I don’t think it’ll be easy.
1 I think we should do something. SEEMS ________________
2 What do you think about that? FEEL ________________
3 I think we should help them. OPINION ________________
4 It’s my fault. BLAME ________________
5 I think it’ll be a problem. RECKON ________________
1 It seems to me we should do something.
2 How do you feel about that?
3 In my opinion, we should help them.
4 I'm to blame.
5 I reckon it'll be a problem.
B For or against?
The
government’s considering a proposal to increase the legal age to
drive a car from 17 to 21. What do you think of this idea?
For
Personally,
I think it’s very sensible. Too many
young people are killed on our roads.
Yes,
I’m in favour of it, because it
would reduce the number of cars on the road.
I
would support it, too. I don’t think
17 year-olds are mature enough to
drive a car.
AGAINST
I’m not in favour of this. I reckon more
young people will just drive illegally.
I’m against it, too. I believe that if young people are old enough to vote, then they’re old
enough to drive.
I’m opposed to it. It’ll make teenagers more dependent on their
parents.
Glossary
consider sth think about sth carefully before making a
decision.
proposal a plan that is formally suggested. propose V.
sensible practical and intelligent. OPP silly.
in favour of sth in agreement with sth. OPP against sth.
reduce sth make sth smaller or less in quantity or size.
OPP increase sth.
support sth agree with sth and sometimes offer help. support N.
mature acting in a sensible, adult way.
believe that have the opinion that.
opposed to sth believing that sth is wrong.
dependent on sb/sth needing sb/sth to help you.
