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Lesson 08
Opinions & Discussion
B1

SharingYour Opinion

I reckon / In my view / It seems to me · qualifying + softening

60 min Opinions

Your level · You are here

  1. A0/A1Beginner
  2. A1/A2Elementary
  3. A2/B1Pre-Intermediate
  4. B1/B1+Intermediate
  5. B2Upper-Intermediate
  6. C1Advanced
  7. C2Proficiency

Get Talking · Section 1

5 min

Start the conversation

activity
Beyond 'I think'

List 4 ways to introduce an opinion in English — without using 'I think'.

discussion
Confident vs aggressive

Which sounds stronger: 'It's obvious that X' or 'I reckon X'? Which is risky in a meeting?

reflection
Hot take

Pineapple on pizza — yes or no? Answer in one full opinion sentence.

Grammar · Section 2

8–10 min

Opinion phrases + softeners

Open in Grammar Bank
How it works
  • English opinion has three layers.
  • (1) OPENER: 'I reckon…' (very informal), 'In my view…' (neutral), 'It seems to me that…' (thoughtful), 'If you ask me…' (personal).
  • (2) SOFTENER inside the sentence: 'kind of', 'a bit', 'tend to', 'might', 'I'd say' — these protect you when you disagree.
  • (3) INVITE: 'What do you reckon?', 'Wouldn't you say?' to pull the other person in.
In action

I reckon working from home is great for focus.

In my view, the rules are a bit out of date.

It seems to me that people tend to overreact online.

If you ask me, the food was kind of overpriced — wouldn't you say?

Question 1.Most informal opener:

Question 2.Softener that protects your opinion:

Question 3.Which phrase INVITES the other person?

Question 4.Which is most diplomatic?

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
Conversation Builder
Say it naturally

Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.

1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

4.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.

Step 1 · Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

Quick check 1.Which sentence is most diplomatic in a meeting?

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Vocabulary · Section 3

5–7 min

Words & phrases to learn

Open in Vocabulary Bank
1

I reckon

I think (informal, British)

In context

"I reckon it's going to rain."

Now try it yourself

Make a prediction about tomorrow using 'I reckon'.

2

In my view

neutral, slightly formal opener

In context

"In my view, the policy needs an update."

Now try it yourself

Give an opinion about your workplace using 'In my view'.

3

It seems to me that…

thoughtful, careful opinion

In context

"It seems to me that we're rushing this."

Now try it yourself

Comment on a current news story using 'It seems to me that'.

4

If you ask me,

very personal, slightly opinionated

In context

"If you ask me, the meeting could've been an email."

Now try it yourself

Share a 'spicy' opinion starting with 'If you ask me'.

5

I'd say

softened opinion ('I would say')

In context

"I'd say it's worth a try."

Now try it yourself

Replace 'I think' with 'I'd say' three times.

6

kind of / a bit

softeners that lower the temperature

In context

"It was kind of disappointing. / It's a bit much."

Now try it yourself

Soften two strong opinions using 'kind of' or 'a bit'.

Make it yours
Use the new words

Pick at least three words from above and use each one in a sentence about your real life. Say each one aloud before you write.

Quick exchange

Ask your teacher (or a partner) a question that uses one of today's words. They reply using a different word.

Ranking

Rank today's words from most to least useful for you this week. Defend your top choice.

Opinion

Finish: "Honestly, I'd say…" using one of today's words.

Tip: aim to reuse at least two of these words later in the Speaking and Writing tasks.

Matching
Match each opener with its register.

Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
Categorise
Group these by function.
Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Pronunciation · Section 4

3–4 min

Falling intonation on the opinion phrase, rising on the invitation

Opinion openers should DROP in pitch — they prepare the listener. The actual opinion is the loudest. If you add 'Wouldn't you say?' or 'What do you reckon?' at the end, the pitch RISES like a question.

  • • In my view ↘, working from home suits MOST people.
  • • I'd say it's a bit overrated ↘, wouldn't you say ↗?
  • • Personally ↘, I reckon it's worth a TRY.
  • • It seems to me ↘ that we're moving too FAST.

Reading · Section 5

8–10 min

Why 'I think' isn't enough

Most B1 learners overuse 'I think' because it's the first opinion phrase they learn. In real English, native speakers cycle through a dozen or so — 'I reckon', 'In my view', 'If you ask me', 'I'd say', 'Personally' — and the choice quietly signals tone. 'I reckon' is the friendly pub version; 'In my view' is the meeting version; 'It seems to me that' is the thoughtful, careful version.

Just as important is what comes inside the sentence. British speakers love softeners — 'kind of', 'a bit', 'tend to', 'I'd say' — because they protect both speakers from a head-on disagreement. Saying 'It's a bit overpriced' is far easier for a listener to push back on than 'It's overpriced.' Mastering this layer — opener + softener + invitation — is what makes B1 opinion feel adult.

Question 1.According to the passage, which opener suits a professional meeting best?

Question 2.What effect do softeners like 'kind of' and 'a bit' have on a disagreement?

Question 3.Why does the writer describe the choice of opener as a 'quiet signal'?

Question 4.What does the writer imply by saying B1 opinion should 'feel adult'?

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
True / False
Decide if each statement is True or False

Q1.'I think' is the only natural opinion opener in English.

Q2.Adding 'kind of' or 'a bit' softens a strong opinion.

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Listening · Section 6

8–10 min

Two flatmates debating whether to get a streaming subscription

Listening audio

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Show transcript

Liv:So, are we actually going to get the new streaming thing or not?

Tom:Honestly? I reckon it's a bit of a waste. We barely use the two we already have.

Liv:Yeah, but in my view, it has the best documentaries. Wouldn't you say?

Tom:It seems to me that we say that every time, and then we end up watching cooking shows.

Liv:Fair point. I'd say we trial it for a month and cancel if we don't use it.

Tom:OK, I can live with that. If you ask me, though, we should cancel one of the others first.

Liv:Deal. Let's drop the one nobody watches.

Question 1.What is Tom's main concern about getting a new streaming service?

Question 2.What compromise does Liv propose?

Question 3.When Tom says 'we say that every time, and then we end up watching cooking shows', what is he implying?

Question 4.What does 'I can live with that' reveal about Tom's attitude to Liv's compromise?

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
Tick what you hear
Tick the opinion phrases you hear in the dialogue.
Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Exam tip · Section 7

5 min

Speaking — giving and supporting an opinion (30–40 seconds)

Task

Answer a 'Do you think…?' question with opener + reason + softener + invitation.

Strategy

OPENER: rotate ('I'd say', 'In my view', 'It seems to me'). OPINION: clear position. SOFTENER inside: 'a bit', 'kind of', 'tend to'. EXAMPLE: one quick instance. INVITE: 'What do you reckon?' to pass the turn.

Example

Do I think social media is harmful? I'd say it's a bit of both, to be honest. In my view, the comparison side can be quite damaging — I tend to feel worse after scrolling for too long. But it's also how I stay in touch with friends abroad. What do you reckon?

Practice · Section 8

8–10 min

Fill in the blank

Question 1.____ my view, the rules need updating.

Question 2.I ____ it's worth a try.

Question 3.It ____ to me that people are working too hard.

Question 4.I'd say it's a ____ overrated.

Question 5.It's a great idea, ____ you say?

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.
Sentence transformation
Say it naturally

There isn't one "right" answer — write a natural version, then compare with the model.

Q1.Soften: 'The food was bad.'

Q2.Open with a thoughtful phrase, then comment on remote work.

Q3.Give a confident but friendly opinion about a film.

Q4.Invite the other person to respond.

Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Writing · Section 9

5 min

Put it in writing

Your task

Write a short opinion post (70–90 words) on whether phones should be banned in schools. Use at least 3 different opinion phrases, one softener and one invitation.

Your answer

Your work saves automatically

0 words

Show model answer

In my view, a full phone ban in schools is a bit extreme. I'd say the real problem isn't phones themselves but how we teach kids to use them. It seems to me that lessons on digital habits would do far more than locking devices away. That said, I reckon during exams and break times some limits make sense. Phones aren't going anywhere — wouldn't you say we'd be better off teaching balance?

Speaking · Section 10

10–15 min

Make it a real conversation

Open in Useful Expressions

Pairs: 'Opinion roulette.' Draw a topic card (pineapple on pizza, 4-day work week, gym at 6am, working from home). Student A gives an opinion using a rotating opener + softener. Student B responds with a different opener. Group extension: 'Hot seat' — one student defends an opinion for 90 seconds while others challenge.

Useful phrases

  • • I reckon…
  • • In my view…
  • • It seems to me that…
  • • If you ask me,
  • • I'd say it's a bit…
  • • What do you reckon?

Speaking reflection & notes

Your work saves automatically

0 words

Dialogue completion
Choose the most natural opinion reply.
  • ADo you think working from home is here to stay?
  • B_______________
  • AAnd what about productivity?
  • B_______________
  • AInteresting.
  • B_______________
Answer all items, then check — or reveal the answers if you're stuck.

Homework · Section 11

Take-home

Take it home

speaking

Record a 45-second opinion on a topic you care about. Use 3 different openers.

writing

Rewrite 6 'I think' sentences with 6 different opinion phrases.

listening

Listen to a BBC podcast intro and note 3 opinion phrases the host uses.

Homework notes

Your work saves automatically

0 words

Recap · Section 12

2–3 min

What you've learned

  • Move beyond 'I think': use I reckon / In my view / It seems to me / I'd say.
  • Match the opener to the register (friendly, neutral, thoughtful).
  • Soften strong opinions with kind of, a bit, tend to.
  • Invite the other person with 'Wouldn't you say?' or 'What do you reckon?'.
  • Falling intonation on the opener, rising on the invitation.
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