August 21, 2020
Expressing your opinion in French

Qu’en pensez-vous?

People often ask me why I love languages so much. Well, I think the main reason is because I really like to travel and to discover new cultures and new ways of thinking.

Learning and improving a new language is the key to better understanding other cultures. Speaking another language definitely expands your horizon and helps you discover new ways to express yourself.

In this day and age, being monolingual will certainly limit your job opportunities, especially when working in Europe or Switzerland. Indeed, international companies prefer to hire bilingual or multilingual professionals as they better represent them internationally. In addition, many companies believe that employing bilinguals also helps in exploring new avenues with prospective clients from all around the world.

Qu’en pensez-vous? (What do you think about that?)

Do you feel comfortable conveying what you really have in mind when speaking French?

Here are my 5 Great Tips to Express Your Opinion in French

1. Make Things Clear

When expressing your opinion on a specific subject, starting your sentences with the following expressions will help you sound more assertive, articulate and well-prepared.

  • À mon avis, … (In my opinion)
  • D’après moi, … (In my opinion) 
  • Selon moi, … (In my opinion)
  • En ce qui me concerne, … (As far as I’m concerned…)
  • Moi personnellement, … (Personally, …)
  • Quant à moi, … (For my part, …)
  • Si je ne me trompe pas, … (If I am not mistaken…)
  • Il me semble que… (It seems to me that…)
  • Je crois que… (I believe that…)
  • Je pense que… (I think that…)
  • Je trouve que… (I find that…)

2. Exprimez votre accord

Your colleague/partner asked your opinion about their idea/project, which you really concur with. Here are a few expressions to show your agreement:

  • Absolument. (Absolutely)
  • Exactement. (Exactly)
  • Tout à fait. (Exactly)
  • Parfaitement. (Perfectly.)
  • Bien entendu. (Exactly)
  • Bien sûr. (Of course, naturally.)
  • Je suis (entièrement) d’accord. (I (entirely) agree with you.)
  • Tu as (bien) raison. (You are (so) right.)
  • Nous sommes du même avis. (We share the same opinion/agree.)
  • Je pense comme toi. (I think like you.)
  • Je suis de ton avis. (I share your opinion/agree.)
  • Je suis d’accord avec toi. (I agree with you.)

3. Agree To Disagree

It is perfectly fine to disagree! Here are a few expressions to help you further express your opposition in a clear, respectful way:

  • Je ne suis pas d’accord. (I disagree)
  • Je crois que non. (I don’t think so.)
  • Je ne pense pas. (I don’t think so.)
  • J’ai changé d’avis et ma réponse est non. (I changed my mind and my answer is no.)
  • Absolument pas. (Absolutely not. Strong)
  • Bien sûr que non. (Of course not. Strong)
  • Je ne partage pas ton avis. (I don’t share your opinion.)
  • Je ne trouve pas. (I don’t find (that’s correct.))
  • C’est inexact / faux. (That’s incorrect / wrong.)
  • Vous avez tort. (You are wrong.)
  • Vous vous trompez. (You are mistaken.)

4. I Have No Clue!

Sometimes, we just don’t know what to answer and need more time to think about something. It’s OK to admit it! Here is how:

  • Je n’en ai aucune idée. (I have no idea.)
  • Je n’en sais rien. (I have no clue.)
  • Laissez-moi y penser. (Let me think about it.)
  • Je vais y réfléchir à tête reposée et je vous en reparle demain. (I’ll think about it (calmly and take my time) and I’ll come back to you tomorrow.)

5. Ask For People’s Advice

My paternal grandfather, Lucien Nicolas, had a lot to do with my love of languages. He kept encouraging me to learn new languages, especially English, as he thought it would be the best way to reach the highest spheres in life.

Lucien was from Bretagne, France. Évidemment, he could only speak French and, like many Bretons, he was une vraie tête de mule (stubborn as a mule!). After a few years living in Montreal and being very successful at his job as a machinist for a big aircraft company, his boss offered him the opportunity to become a contremaître (supervisor). That promotion however implied learning and speaking English. Unfortunately, he declined the offer, believing he could never learn a new language in his mid-forties. He told me that he always regretted his decision, which could have opened new doors for him and his family, had he chosen to learn English.

As far back as I can remember, Lucien always encouraged me to excel in English and other foreign languages. When I was less than 2 years old, he would take me out for a stroll in the streets of Ville d’Anjou, Montreal, and passers-by would be surprised by my eagerness to chat with them, using a language only toddlers could understand. When asked which language I was speaking, Lucien always answered: English, bien sûr!  Speaking foreign languages was definitely ingrained in me!

Don’t be too hard on yourself when improving your French language skills and, when in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask other bilinguals and native speakers for their advice.

  • À ton avis, est-ce que c’est intéressant ? (Do you believe it is interesting?)
  • Qu’est-ce que tu en penses ? (What do you think about it?)
  • Je peux avoir ton avis sur… ? (Can you share your thoughts on… ?)
  • Qu’est-ce que tu dis de ça ? (What do you say about that?)
  • Tu crois que ça en vaut la peine ? (Do you believe it is worth it?)

If you live in the Geneva or Vaud Cantons in Switzerland and you want to apply for a Permis C, you will be required to pass the A2 or B1 oral test. In this test, you will be asked to express your opinion on various questions related to your everyday life such as: 

  • Pourriez-vous vivre une semaine sans votre portable?
  • Selon vous, est-ce que la cigarette devrait être interdite dans les lieux publics?
  • Que pensez-vous de la vie culturelle à Genève?

If you are not currently 100% convinced you could answer these questions with confidence, don’t panic! We have designed a special Permis C Preparation Program which guarantees that you will pass your oral and written tests. Every single one of our clients have passed their exams.

Here is what our client Smita said about her experience with Prêt à Parler:

I recommend Prêt à Parler to anyone who is thinking about taking French lessons. The fact that you can book your lessons online makes it super easy to be organised, especially when you are a busy working mom of 2.

My French teacher Yohann was excellent - really kind, patient and encouraging. He went at an excellent pace and I felt fully prepared for my FIDE exam which I passed with better grades than what I needed. Isabelle is personable, professional and caring. Don't hesitate to book a language package with them.

Smita Singh

Marketing & Communications at EBU (Geneva)

Would you also like to prepare for success? Click here to learn more.

I hope you now have more tools to express your opinion in French!

Disclaimer: Prêt à Parler CH does not carry out fide tests and is not yet accredited for any of the fide procedures. However, our team of Super Profs has been helping our clients to successfully pass their fide test in Suisse romande since January 2019. Our online preparation program for the fide test, blog articles, social media posts and videos are meant to help fide applicants better understand and prepare for their exam.

Isabelle

As a native Québécoise, born to a Franco-Belgian family, now living in Nyon with her two children, Isabelle is no stranger to the expat reality! Trained as a professional opera singer, her passion for arts and languages led her to become an ambassador of the French language & francophone culture, i.e. a French Teacher!

She founded Prêt à Parler in January 2015. Since then she's been hard at work helping native and non-native English-speaking expats make French part of their everyday life! Prêt à Parler's mission is based on what Isabelle does best: helping busy professionals and parents improve their French language skills by providing a high quality, eco-friendly, fun, no-nonsense approach to learning French online!

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