Expressing Opinions in IELTS Speaking
Lesson 8
Expressing opinions or giving your thoughts is an important part of the IELTS speaking test, especially in part 3 when you have a 2-way discussion with the examiner.
You will also need to justify your opinion or explain why you have that opinion.
In this lesson we’ll look at some ways to express your opinions and justify them.
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To do this we usually use adverbial phrases at the start of the sentence.
Here are some ways of expressing opinions or saying what you think about a topic:
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
| Clearly
Obviously |
Easy to understand or see | Clearly, the economy is not going to improve this year. |
| Personally | Showing that it is your opinion | Personally, I don’t think the legal drinking age should be reduced. Others may disagree. |
| Generally | Usually, or in most situations | Generally, the trains are a lot more reliable than the buses in my country. |
| Surprisingly | Unexpectedly or in a way that is unusual | Surprisingly, the government prohibited smoking in all public places last year. I never thought this would happen. |
| Inevitably | In a way that cannot be avoided | I didn’t study much. Inevitably, I didn’t get the score I needed. |
| Predictably | As expected | Predictably, problems are now occurring in the city because of overpopulation. |
| Frankly | To be honest and direct | Frankly, I wish I’d waited before taking the IELTS test as I’m not ready! |
| Sadly
Regrettably Unfortunately |
Unhappy, sad or sorry about something | Regrettably, my family could never return to their country because of the civil war. |
And after expressing your opinions, here are some ways that you can justify them:
| Generally, the trains are a lot more reliable than the buses in my country… | …because the government has… …since the government has… …due to the fact that the government has… + Noun Phrase: …due to the government’s investment of… …as a result of the government’s investment of… …as a consequence of the government’s investment of… |
| Generally, the trains are a lot more reliable than the buses in my country. | + Subject Verb: + Noun Phrase: This is because of the government’s investment of… This is as a result of the government’s investment of… This is as a consequence of the government’s investment of… |
Expressing Opinions – Practice
Now it’s your turn.
In questions 1-5, choose which adverbial phrase should go in the gap. Look carefully at the rest of the sentence. Is it something surprising? Sad? Obvious? Predictable? Typical?
In the next 5 questions, choose the correct justifying phrase to go in the gap. Again, look at the sentence.
You need to decide which one will fit grammatically. Is it followed by a noun or a subject and a verb?
6. Predictably, temperatures are continuing to rise
a lack of action by governments.
7. Sadly, more refugees are fleeing the country
the war is continuing.
8. Obviously, the failure rate in schools is high
the low numbers of teachers.
9. Generally, people are having children later in life.
many more women are now working.
10. Personally, I don’t believe that unemployment will fall.
the unwillingness of companies to hire new staff.
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