Opinions (Leaving Cert French): Revision Notes
Opinions
Being able to express your opinions is an important part of learning any language. Let's explore some useful phrases and vocabulary to help you talk about what you like, dislike, and think!
Common Opinion Phrases
Here are some simple phrases to help you express your opinions:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je pense que… | I think that… |
| Je crois que… | I believe that… |
| J'aime… | I like… |
| Je n'aime pas… | I don't like… |
| J'adore… | I love… |
| Je déteste… | I hate… |
| À mon avis… | In my opinion… |
| Selon moi… | According to me… |
| Je trouve que… | I think that… |
| Je pense que… | I think that… |
| Il me semblerait que | It would seem to me that (conditional.) |
| Par contre | On the other hand |
| Pour moi… | For me… |
| Je dirais que… | I would say that… |
| Je suis sûr(e) que… | I am sure that… |
| Il est probable que… | It is likely that… |
Expressing Preferences
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je préfère… | I prefer… |
| Je préfère plutôt… | I would rather… |
| Mon/Ma préféré(e)… | My favourite… |
| Ça m'est égal… | I don't mind… |
| Je ne supporte pas… | I can't stand… |
Use "Mon préféré" for masculine nouns and "Ma préférée" for feminine nouns. For example: "Mon film préféré" (My favourite movie) and "Ma couleur préférée" (My favourite colour).
Asking for and Giving Opinions
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Que penses-tu de…? | What do you think about…? |
| Es-tu d'accord avec…? | Do you agree with…? |
| Comment te sens-tu à propos de…? | How do you feel about…? |
| À tonne avis, quel est…? | In your opinion, what is…? |
| Je suis d'accord avec toi parce que… | I agree with you because… |
| Je ne suis pas d'accord avec ça parce que… | I don't agree with that because… |
| Je comprends tonne point de vue, mais… | I understand your point of view, but… |
| C'est intéressant, mais je pense… | That's interesting, but I think… |
Adjectives to Describe Opinions
Here's how you can add more detail to your opinions using adjectives.
Remember, in French, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural).
| English | Masculine | Feminine | Plural (M) | Plural (F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interesting | Intéressant | Intéressante | Intéressants | Intéressantes |
| Boring | Ennuyeux | Ennuyeuse | Ennuyeux | Ennuyeuses |
| Exciting | Passionnant | Passionnante | Passionnants | Passionnantes |
| Important | Important | Importante | Importants | Importantes |
| Useless | Inutile | Inutile | Inutiles | Inutiles |
| Fun | Amusant | Amusante | Amusants | Amusantes |
| Difficult | Difficile | Difficile | Difficiles | Difficiles |
| Easy | Facile | Facile | Faciles | Faciles |
| Tasty | Délicieux | Délicieuse | Délicieux | Délicieuses |
| Disgusting | Dégoûtant | Dégoûtante | Dégoûtants | Dégoûtantes |
Learning Tip: Always check if the noun you're describing is masculine or feminine and adjust the adjective accordingly.
Agreement and Disagreement
Here's how to agree or disagree with someone's opinion:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je suis d'accord | I agree |
| Je ne suis pas d'accord | I disagree |
| Absolument | Absolutely |
| Exactement | Exactly |
| Pas du tout | Not at all |
| Tu as raison | You're right |
| Je ne pense pas | I don't think so |
Exam Tip When writing opinions in French, always remember to use the correct gender for adjectives. This small detail can make a big difference in your marks!
Expressing Emotions
Here are some useful phrases and vocabulary to describe how you feel.
| English | Masculine | Feminine | Plural (Masculine & Mixed) | Plural (Feminine Only) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I am happy | Je suis heureux | Je suis heureuse | Nous sommes heureux | Nous sommes heureuses |
| I am sad | Je suis triste | Je suis triste | Nous sommes tristes | Nous sommes tristes |
| I am excited | Je suis excité | Je suis excitée | Nous sommes excités | Nous sommes excitées |
| I am worried | Je suis inquiet | Je suis inquiète | Nous sommes inquiets | Nous sommes inquiètes |
| I am tired | Je suis fatigué | Je suis fatiguée | Nous sommes fatigués | Nous sommes fatiguées |
| I am angry | Je suis en colère | Je suis en colère | Nous sommes en colère | Nous sommes en colère |
| I am surprised | Je suis surpris | Je suis surprise | Nous sommes surpris | Nous sommes surprises |
| I am disappointed | Je suis déçu | Je suis déçue | Nous sommes déçus | Nous sommes déçues |
| I am proud | Je suis fier | Je suis fière | Nous sommes fiers | Nous sommes fières |
| I am scared | J'ai peur | J'ai peur | Nous avons peur | Nous avons peur |
Grammar Point: The phrase "J'ai peur" remains the same for all forms since "peur" is a noun, not an adjective. The plural form uses "nous avons peur."
"En colère" is a fixed expression, so it remains the same for both masculine and feminine forms and does not change in the plural.
Connecting Your Opinions
To make your sentences more complex and interesting, you can connect your ideas using conjunctions. Here are some useful ones:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Parce que | Because |
| Cependant | However |
| Bien que | Although |
| Donc | Therefore |
| De plus | Moreover |
| Par exemple | For example |
| D'un autre côté | On the other hand |
| Néanmoins | Nevertheless |
| En conséquence | As a result |
Expressing Opinions on Various Topics
When discussing topics like school, hobbies, or current events, here are some phrases you can use to express your opinions:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je pense que c'est important parce que… | I think that this is important because… |
| Je crois que cette idée est… | I believe that this idea is… |
| À mon avis, c'est injuste parce que… | In my opinion, this is unfair because… |
| Je dirais que c'est… | I would say that this is… |
| Il me semble que cette solution est… | It seems to me that this solution is… |
| Je sens que c'est le meilleur choix parce que… | I feel that this is the best choice because… |
| De mon point de vue, cela pourrait être mieux si… | From my perspective, this could be better if… |
| Je doute que cela fonctionnera parce que… | I doubt that this will work because… |
| Je suis convaincu(e) que… | I am convinced that… |
| Je doute que… | I doubt that… |
Beginner
Je pense que le film est intéressant. (I think the movie is interesting.)
Je préfère les vacances d'été. (I prefer summer holidays.)
Je crois que c'est une bonne idée. (I believe that it's a good idea.)
Intermediate
À mon avis, la musique classique est relaxante. (In my opinion, classical music is relaxing.)
Use of "à mon avis" (in my opinion) to express a personal viewpoint.
Il me semble que ce livre est trop long. (It seems to me that this book is too long.)
Expressing a less direct opinion with "il me semble que" (it seems to me that).
Je pense qu'il est important de protéger l'environnement. (I think it's important to protect the environment.)
Expressing an opinion with an infinitive verb, "de protéger" (to protect).
Advanced
Je suis convaincu(e) que les nouvelles technologies peuvent améliorer notre vie quotidienne. (I am convinced that new technologies can improve our daily lives.)
Use of "je suis convaincu(e) que" (I am convinced that), which expresses a strong opinion.
Il est possible que cette décision ait des conséquences négatives. (It is possible that this decision may have negative consequences.)
Complex grammar: Use of the subjunctive "ait" (may have), triggered by "il est possible que" (it is possible that).
Bien que je comprenne tonne point de vue, je ne suis pas entièrement d'accord. (Although I understand your point of view, I don't entirely agree.)
Complex grammar: Use of the subjunctive "comprenne" (understand) after "bien que" (although).
Il va sans dire que l'éducation joue un rôle crucial dans le développement d'une société. (It goes without saying that education plays a crucial role in the development of a society.)
Use of the expression "il va sans dire que" (it goes without saying that), which is an advanced way to introduce a widely accepted opinion.
Grammar Point:
- Subjunctive Mood: The subjunctive is often used in French after expressions of doubt, emotion, necessity, or possibility. Phrases like "il est possible que" and "bien que" require the subjunctive form of the verb in the following clause.
- Agreement of Adjectives and Pronouns: In sentences like "je suis convaincu(e)" or "je suis fatigué(e)", the ending of the adjective must agree in gender with the subject. This is a key aspect of French grammar.