Asking for opinions
It's a good idea to ask another person about their opinion before you tell them your opinion loudly and strongly.
Maybe they completely disagree with you. Here are ten ways to ask.
Ten ways to ask for someone's opinion
casual · neutral · formal
- What do you think of...?neutralWhat do you think of the new prime minister?
- What do you think about...?neutralWhat do you think about moving to Colombo?
- How d'you feel (about...)?casualHow d'you feel about working on Saturdays?
- What d'you reckon (about...)?casualWhat d'you reckon about the new bus timetable?
- What's your opinion of...?neutralWhat's your opinion of online classes?
- (What do you think about) that?neutralThey're closing the market on Sundays. What do you think about that?
- What are your views on...?formalWhat are your views on the new tax?
- Where do you stand (on...)?neutralWhere do you stand on school uniforms?
- What would you say to... / if we...?neutralWhat would you say if we went to Ella this weekend?
- Are you aware of...?neutralAre you aware of the problems with the new road?
How to use them
- are followed by a noun or gerund (-ing form).
- are general phrases for asking for an opinion. We can use them both formally and informally. In informal speech, "do you" becomes "d'you?".
- are more informal. We can use them with "about" and a noun or gerund phrase e.g. "How d'you feel about having a class outside in the garden?"
- We use (with
that) after another sentence (e.g. "They're going to build a new supermarket here. What do you think of that?"). - are more formal. You could use them in a business meeting and you might hear them on interviews on the news.
- is asking the other person's opinion of an idea or proposal. We follow
towith a noun or gerund and followif wewith a sentence with a verb in the simple past tense. - is an indirect way of asking for an opinion. We ask if the other person knows about the situation. They are then expected to react with an opinion.
Quick check
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A TV interviewer asks a minister about a new law. Which phrase fits?
"Where do you stand on it?" asks about your:
Which phrase also suggests an idea?
See also: Giving your opinion
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