Unit 40 Belief and opinion

• A. Verbs connected with beliefs and opinions

I believe something. I have an opinion or an idea.

I th_____ I’ve met you before.

I believe something. I have an opinion or an idea.

I think I’ve met you before.

I believe something. I have an opinion or an idea. Say the opposite. I think I’ve met you before. The opposite : I .................... I’ve met you before.

I believe something. I have an opinion or an idea. Say the opposite. I think I’ve met you before. The opposite : I don’t think I’ve met you before.

I think that something is true, correct or real. Say the opposite. I bel_____ that all children are born with equal intelligence. She’s arriving tomorrow, I bel_____.

I think that something is true, correct or real. Say the opposite. I believe that all children are born with equal intelligence. She’s arriving tomorrow I believe.

I have a very strong feeling that you’re right. I’m conv_____ we’ve met before.

I have a very strong feeling that you’re right. I’m convinced we’ve met before.

I firmly believe ....... I ’ve a lways he_____ /main_____ that compulsory education is a waste of time.

I firmly believe ....... I’ve always held /maintained that compulsory education is a waste of time.

She insists on believing, often against the evidence (formal; ‘hold’ could not be used here). She main_____ that we’re related, but I’m not convinced.

She insists on believing, often against the evidence (formal; ‘hold’ could not be used here). She maintains that we’re related, but I’m not convinced.

This is a very strong personal opinion. I fe_____ she shouldn’t be forced to do the job.

This is a very strong personal opinion. I feel she shouldn’t be forced to do the job.

This is usually an opinion about what is likely to happen/to be true; informal). I reck_____ they’ll get married soon.

This is usually an opinion about what is likely to happen/to be true; informal). I reckon they’ll get married soon.

I don’t believe this. I dou_____ we’ll ever see total world peace.

I don’t believe this. I doubt we’ll ever see total world peace.

I have a strong feeling about something negative (fairly formal). I sus_____ a lot of people never even think about pollution when they’re driving their own car.

I have a strong feeling about something negative (fairly formal). I suspect a lot of people never even think about pollution when they’re driving their own car.

• B. Phrases for expressing opinion

Fairly formal. We haven’t made any progress, in my v_____/in my op_____.

Fairly formal. We haven’t made any progress, in my view/in my opinion.

Fairly informal. She made a big mistake, to my m_____.

Fairly informal. She made a big mistake, to my mind.

Informal. If you a_____ me, he ought to change his job.

Informal. If you ask me, he ought to change his job.

How teachers see things, or are affected. From a teacher’s p_____ of v_____, the new examinations are a disaster.

How teachers see things, or are affected. From a teacher’s point of view, the new examinations are a disaster.