I Think It’s Good: A Simple Opinion

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I Think It’s Good: A Simple Opinion

In this lesson, you can give a simple opinion with I think.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Before you start

Give one simple opinion about a café.

See one possible response

I think it’s nice.

You and a friend choose a place for a simple weekend lunch.

What you will practise
  • Give a simple opinion with I think.
  • Keep the words in statement order after think.
  • Give an opinion about something that is not true.

Say your answer. Then check the model. Your answer can be different if it fits the task.

Start with I think

Use I think before a simple statement: I think the café is nice. Keep the subject and verb of the statement. The café is nice becomes I think the café is nice.

I think this café is good.

I think the tables are small.

The woman tentatively points toward a closed shop doorway with an unlit handle and a small blank notice. The man listens with a questioning look. Show her opinion about possible opening, without proving that the shop is open or closed.
I think it is open.The embedded clause retains subject-before-verb order.

Keep statement order

After think, use the same order as a statement, not a question. Say I think it is open, not I think is it open. In speech, it is can become it’s. You can also include that: I think that it’s open.

I think it’s open now.

I think that the food is fresh.

Say what you think is not true

A simple statement after think can contain not: I think the shop is not open. In conversation, isn’t and aren’t are useful. This lesson keeps I think as the starting frame; other negative opinion patterns can come later.

I think this table isn’t clean.

I think the chairs aren’t new.

The same pair look at two visibly worn upholstered chairs, with the woman giving a thoughtful opinion and pointing to the softened fabric and scuffed legs. No dramatic damage, room or extra furniture.
I think the chairs aren’t new.This is the opinion pattern practised in this lesson.

Guided practice

Say or write your answer first. Then compare the meaning and grammar with the model.

1. The meal is good. Start with I think.

Compare a model and explanation

I think the meal is good.

The original statement keeps its order.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

2. I think is the café open.

Compare a model and explanation

I think the café is open.

Do not use question order after think.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

3. I think the chairs ___ comfortable.

Compare a model and explanation

are

The plural subject chairs takes are.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

4. I think it is quiet. Use a contraction.

Compare a model and explanation

I think it’s quiet.

It’s combines it and is.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

5. I think the room is ready.

Compare a model and explanation

I think that the room is ready.

That is optional in this simple frame.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

6. I think the shop is open. Use isn’t.

Compare a model and explanation

I think the shop isn’t open.

This changes the opinion about the shop, not the word order.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

7. Is it good? I think it is good. Which one asks a question?

Compare a model and explanation

Is it good?

The second sentence states an opinion.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

8. Your opinion: the big room is nice, but the small room is not ready. Give both opinions.

Compare a model and explanation

I think the big room is nice, but I think the small room isn’t ready.

Keep a complete statement after each think.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

A short conversation

Listen to the exchange, then take one role. The speaker labels identify roles; do not narrate them.

Open the conversation transcript

Friend: What about the café near the station?

You: I think it’s busy today.

Friend: I think the café in the park is quiet.

You: Yes. I think that’s a good choice.

Listening checks

Listen to each extract, then choose the best answer. These three questions have their own score.

1. Which room does the speaker think is ready?
Read the listening transcript

I think the blue room is ready. I think the green room isn’t ready.

2. What is the opinion about?
Read the listening transcript

Do you like this table? I think it’s too small.

3. Is the speaker completely sure?
Read the listening transcript

I think the restaurant is open. I’m not sure.

Answer key with explanations

  1. Which room does the speaker think is ready?

    The blue room.: The positive opinion concerns the blue room.

    Compare all choices
    • The green room.: The speaker uses isn’t ready for green.
    • The blue room.: The positive opinion concerns the blue room.
    • Both rooms.: One room is described negatively.

  2. What is the opinion about?

    The table.: It refers back to this table.

    Compare all choices
    • A bus.: No bus is mentioned.
    • The whole town.: The town is not under discussion.
    • The table.: It refers back to this table.

  3. Is the speaker completely sure?

    No.: I’m not sure explicitly limits certainty.

    Compare all choices
    • No.: I’m not sure explicitly limits certainty.
    • Yes, completely.: That contradicts the second sentence.
    • The speaker says it is definitely closed.: The stated opinion is open, not closed.

Mastery quiz

Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.

1. Choose the correct word order.
2. Complete: I think the tickets ___ cheap.
3. Choose a correct contraction.
4. Which sentence includes optional that correctly?
5. Choose the opinion with a negative statement.
6. Which is a question rather than an opinion statement?
7. Choose the full sentence about more than one chair.
8. The speaker says I think it’s safe. I’m not sure. What is supported?
Answer key with explanations

  1. Choose the correct word order.

    I think the room is nice.: The statement follows subject–verb order.

    Compare all choices
    • I think the room is nice.: The statement follows subject–verb order.
    • I think is the room nice.: This uses question order inside the opinion.
    • I think nice room the is.: The noun phrase and verb are misplaced.

  2. Complete: I think the tickets ___ cheap.

    are: Tickets is plural.

    Compare all choices
    • be: The statement needs a finite verb here.
    • are: Tickets is plural.
    • is: Is does not agree with tickets.

  3. Choose a correct contraction.

    I think it’s good.: It’s stands for it is.

    Compare all choices
    • I think its good.: Its is a possessive form, not it is in writing.
    • I think good it’s is.: The words do not form the intended statement.
    • I think it’s good.: It’s stands for it is.

  4. Which sentence includes optional that correctly?

    I think that the café is busy.: That introduces the complete statement.

    Compare all choices
    • I think that the café is busy.: That introduces the complete statement.
    • I think the that café busy.: That is not placed correctly and the verb is missing.
    • I that think café busy.: Think must precede its statement and the statement needs a verb.

  5. Choose the opinion with a negative statement.

    I think the shop isn’t open.: Isn’t makes the inner statement negative.

    Compare all choices
    • I think the shop open not.: The statement needs a correctly placed verb.
    • I think the shop isn’t open.: Isn’t makes the inner statement negative.
    • I think isn’t the shop open.: This uses negative question order inside think.

  6. Which is a question rather than an opinion statement?

    Is the food good?: Is comes before the subject to ask a question.

    Compare all choices
    • I think that the food is good.: This also states an opinion.
    • I think the food is good.: This states an opinion.
    • Is the food good?: Is comes before the subject to ask a question.

  7. Choose the full sentence about more than one chair.

    I think these chairs are new.: The plural subject and verb agree.

    Compare all choices
    • I think these chairs are new.: The plural subject and verb agree.
    • I think these chair is new.: These needs plural chairs and are.
    • I think are new these chairs.: Statement order is required after think.

  8. The speaker says I think it’s safe. I’m not sure. What is supported?

    The speaker gives an uncertain opinion.: The second sentence explicitly says there is uncertainty.

    Compare all choices
    • The speaker refuses to give an opinion.: An opinion has been given.
    • The speaker gives an uncertain opinion.: The second sentence explicitly says there is uncertainty.
    • Safety has been proved.: An opinion with uncertainty is not proof.

Use it in your own words

Two opinions

Give two short opinions about a café or room.

Reveal a possible response

I think the room is bright. I think the chairs are comfortable.

  • Use a complete statement after think
  • Match singular and plural

Use familiar adjectives.

A different view

A friend says a shop is open. You think it is closed. Give your view with I think and isn’t.

Reveal a possible response

I think it isn’t open.

  • Use statement order
  • Make the inside statement negative

Other clear negative statements are acceptable.

Put it all together

Choose a place for a small study group. Compare two rooms, give one positive and one negative opinion, then ask your partner what they think.

Reveal a possible response

I think this room is quiet. I think the other room isn’t big enough. What about you?

  • Give two clear opinions
  • Include one negative
  • Return the topic to your partner

Simpler adjectives are fine; the room details can be invented.

Take it with you

Put a complete statement after I think. Keep normal statement order. You can include a negative statement too.