VI. Expressing opinion

Making Suggestions

There are a number of formulas used when making suggestions in English. Here are some of the most common:

· Why don't you / we go to the movies tonight?

· You / we could visit New York while you're / we're there.

· Let's go to the travel agent's this afternoon to book our ticket.

· What about asking your brother for help?

· How about going to Hawaii for your vacation?

· I suggest you / we should take all the factors into consideration before we decide.

Construction

Formula	VerbForm
Why don't you / we go to a movie?	Use the base form of the verb in a question
We / You could go to a movie.	Use the base form of the verb in a statement
Let's go to a movie.	Use the base form of the verb with 'let's'
What about going to a movie?	Use the '-ing' form of the verb in a question
How about going to a movie?	Use the '-ing' form of the verb in a question
I suggest you / we go to a movie.	Use suggest object verb in the base form in a statement.

Task: Make suggestions using the following combinations. Mind the above constructions.

- to hold a discussion on …

- to make a presentation about…

- to make enquiries about …

- to get in touch with

- to decide on …

- to get down to business …

- to find out …

- to turn to somebody for …

- to consider the problem of …

- to have a celebration…

Stating a Preference

Sometimes you need to state a preference when someone makes a suggestion, offers something or asks your opinion about what to do. Often people are asking for your opinion and you can state your preference freely; other times, people have made an offer and you need to state a preference politely if you do not want to do what has been suggested, or would rather do something else.

·

· Would you like to see a film tonight?
I'd rather go dancing. How does that sound?

· Why don't we have some Chinese food?
Well, I'd prefer eating Italian. Whatdoyouthink?

· What do you think we should do?
If it were up to me, I'd go out for dinner.

· What are we going to do today? The weather is awful!
I think we should go to a museum.

Why don't we go to a museum.

Let's go to a museum.

How about going to a museum.

Construction

Formula	VerbForm
I'drather...	Use the base form the verb without 'to' with 'rather'
I'dprefer...	Use the '-ing' form following the verb 'prefer'
If it were up to me, I'd...	Use the second conditional form followed by the base form of the verb without 'to'
I thinkweshould...	Use the base form the verb without 'to' following the modal form 'should'
Whydon'twe...?	Use the base form of the verb in a question
Let'sgo ...	Use the base form of the verb with 'let's'
Howabo...?	Use the '-ing' form of the verb after a preposition - here 'about'

Task: Make up short dialogues using the above constructions. Follow the lines:

- making a suggestion – stating a preference

- offering something – stating a preference

- asking opinion – stating a preference

Disagreeing

Here are a number of useful phrases used when disagreeing or expressing another opinion. Notice that a number of these expressions employ the first or second conditional.

· I wouldn't do that. I would...

· Butifwe...

· I'm afraid I have to disagree with you.

· Don'tgetmewrong, ...

· Evenso, if...

· Don'tforgetthat...

· Verytrue, but...

Examples:

I wouldn't do that. I'd speak to the teacher first and see what she says.
But if we don't make those investments, we'll risk loosing market share.
Don't get me wrong, I just think we should look at some other options before making a decision.
Even so, if we change classes this late, we might not get a passing grade.
Don't forget that we you still need to finish all your homework before you can do that.
Very true, but we still need to get the garden in shape before building a new deck.

Task: Make up short dialogs using the constructions from points 1, 2, 3. Follow the lines:

suggestion – preference – disagreeing

offering – preference – disagreeing

asking opinion – preference – disagreeing

Giving Advice

There are a number of formulas used when Giving Advice in English. Here are some of the most common:

· I don't think you should work so hard.

· You ought to work less.

· You ought not to work so hard.

· If I were you, I'd work less.

· If I were in your position, I'd work less.

· If I were in your shoes, I'd work less.

· You had better work less.

· You shouldn't work so hard.

· Whatever you do, don't work so hard.

Construction

Formula	VerbForm
I don't think you should work so hard.	Use 'I don't think you should' the base form of the verb in a statement.
You ought to work less.	Use 'You ought to' the base form of the verb in a statement.
You ought not to work so hard.	Use 'You ought not to' the base form of the verb in a statement.
If I were you, If I were in your position, If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't work so hard.	Use 'If I were' 'you' OR 'in your position' OR 'your shoes' 'I wouldn't' OR 'I would' base form of the verb in a statement (A form of the conditional 2).
You had better work less.	Use 'You had better' (you'd better) the base form of the verb in a statement.
You shouldn't OR You should work less.	Use 'You should' OR 'You shouldn't' the base form of the verb in a statement.
Whatever you do, don't work so hard.	Use 'Whatever you do' the imperative.

Task: make up short dialogs using the above constructions. You may use the suggested tips:learning abroad; starting a new project; becoming an economist (a doctor, an engineer etc); learning several languages; working hard; taking up some sport etc.

Contrasting Ideas

There are a number of formulas used when contrasting ideas in English. Here are some of the most common:

· We'd love to stay for dinner, but we have got to get going.

· They decided to stay in the area, in spite of their problems with the local residents.

· Despite the difficulties of a long journey, Peter decided to visit India.

· Getting a good job is hard work, however, most people eventually find one with patience.

· There were a number of people who came, although the hotels were not equipped to handle them all.

Construction

Formula	Example	Explanation
main statement, but contrasting statement	I'd really like to come to the film, but I have to study tonight.	Use a comma or semi colon (;) with 'but'. 'But' is the most common way to show contrasting ideas.
main statement, in spite of contrasting statement OR in spite of contrasting statement, main statement	They continued on their journey, in spite of the pouring rain.	Use 'in spite of' plus a noun, noun phrase or gerund
main statement, despite contrasting statement OR Despite contrasting statement, main statement	They continued on their journey, despite the pouring rain.	Use 'despite' plus a noun, noun phrase or gerund
main statement, although contrasting statement OR Although contrasting statement, main statement	We wanted to buy a sports car, although we knew that fast cars can be dangerous.	Use 'although' with a subject and a verb.