Your Opinions (Leaving Cert German): Revision Notes
Your Opinions
Learning to express your thoughts and feelings about books, films, TV programmes, and music is essential for natural conversation in German. This note covers the key vocabulary and structures you need to share your opinions confidently.
Mastering opinion expressions is one of the most practical skills in German conversation. You'll use these phrases constantly when discussing entertainment, making recommendations, or simply chatting about your interests with German speakers.
Expressing what you like
When talking about your preferences, German offers several ways to show different levels of enthusiasm. Understanding these subtle differences in meaning will help you express exactly how you feel.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| mögen | to like |
| gern | gladly/like to |
| lieber | prefer |
| am liebsten | most like/favourite |
The verb mögen works like any other verb, whilst gern is an adverb that goes with other verbs to show you enjoy doing something. Lieber indicates preference between options, and am liebsten shows your top choice.
Worked Example: Using Different Levels of Preference
- Ich mag diesen Film. → I like this film.
- Ich lese gern Bücher. → I like reading books.
- Ich höre lieber Rockmusik. → I prefer listening to rock music.
- Am liebsten sehe ich Komédien. → I like watching comedies most of all.
Notice how each sentence shows a different intensity of preference, from simple liking to absolute favourite.
Expressing what you don't like
Negative opinions use similar structures but with negation words or specific verbs for dislike. These expressions are just as important as positive ones for balanced, natural conversation.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| nicht mögen | to not like |
| nicht gern | not gladly/don't like to |
| hassen | to hate |
| langweilig | boring |
Worked Example: Expressing Dislikes
- Ich mag Horrorfilme nicht. → I don't like horror films.
- Ich sehe nicht gern Seifenopern. → I don't like watching soap operas.
- Ich hasse langweilige Bücher. → I hate boring books.
- Dieses Lied ist langweilig. → This song is boring.
Note that hassen is much stronger than nicht mögen - use it carefully!
Positive opinion vocabulary
These adjectives help you describe why you enjoyed something. Learning a variety of positive descriptors will make your German sound more sophisticated and expressive.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| toll | great |
| spannend | exciting |
| interessant | interesting |
| unterhaltsam | entertaining |
Example sentences:
- Der Film war toll. → The film was great.
- Das Buch ist spannend. → The book is exciting.
- Ich finde diese Serie interessant. → I find this series interesting.
- Das Konzert war sehr unterhaltsam. → The concert was very entertaining.
Negative opinion vocabulary
When something disappoints you, these adjectives express your criticism clearly. Having specific vocabulary for negative opinions helps you give constructive and precise feedback.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| schlecht | bad |
| langweilig | boring |
| doof | stupid/silly |
| furchtbar | terrible |
Example sentences:
- Das Ende des Films war schlecht. → The end of the film was bad.
- Die Geschichte ist langweilig. → The story is boring.
- Ich finde das Lied doof. → I think the song is silly.
- Das Buch war furchtbar. → The book was terrible.
Opinion phrases and structures
These expressions introduce your viewpoint and make your opinions sound more natural and sophisticated. Using varied opinion phrases prevents your German from sounding repetitive.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| meiner Meinung nach | in my opinion |
| ich denke | I think |
| ich finde | I find |
| ich glaube | I believe |
Example sentences:
- Meiner Meinung nach war der Film fantastisch. → In my opinion the film was fantastic.
- Ich denke, dass das Buch zu lang ist. → I think the book is too long.
- Ich finde die Serie sehr lustig. → I find the series very funny.
- Ich glaube, dass dieses Lied ein Hit wird. → I believe this song will be a hit.
Pronunciation tip: Remember that "meiner Meinung nach" is pronounced with the stress on "MEI-ner MEI-nung NACH" - each word gets equal emphasis.
Example dialogue
Sample Conversation: Discussing Film Preferences
Anna: Was für Filme magst du?
(What kind of films do you like?)
Tom: Ich sehe am liebsten Actionfilme. Sie sind sehr spannend. Was ist mit dir?
(I like watching action films most. They're very exciting. What about you?)
Anna: Ich mag keine Actionfilme. Meiner Meinung nach sind sie zu laut. Ich schaue lieber Komédien.
(I don't like action films. In my opinion they're too loud. I prefer watching comedies.)
Tom: Ach so! Ich finde Komédien manchmal langweilig.
(I see! I sometimes find comedies boring.)
This dialogue demonstrates how to ask about preferences, give opinions, and respond to others' views naturally.
Common mistakes and tips
Key Areas to Watch:
Adjective endings: Remember to match adjective endings with the gender and case of the noun. For example, "der langweilige Film" (masculine nominative) but "den langweiligen Film" (masculine accusative).
Gern placement: Don't put "gern" at the end of the sentence. It goes after the main verb: "Ich lese gern" not "Ich lese... gern."
Opinion variety: Use different opinion phrases to avoid repetition. Instead of always saying "ich mag," try "ich finde," "meiner Meinung nach," or "ich denke."
Giving reasons: Support your opinions with "weil" (because) or "aber" (but) to create more complex and interesting sentences.
Key Points to Remember:
- Gern combines with verbs to show you enjoy activities, whilst mögen works as a standalone verb for liking things
- Am liebsten expresses your strongest preference - your absolute favourite
- Use opinion phrases like meiner Meinung nach and ich finde to sound more sophisticated
- Pay attention to adjective endings when describing things as toll, spannend, or langweilig
- Listen for opinion keywords in exams - they often signal how the speaker feels about something