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Lesson 158 of 240

New here? This is lesson 158 of a free 240-lesson French course.

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What do you think in French

The meeting is over. Claire and Sam sit at Café des Tilleuls with coffee still warm. She wants his view on the short tour.

Gaspard is at the next table, croissant in reach, café crème untouched.

You'll ask what someone thinks, ask for a view, and give yours: a good idea, a better short version, a mild 'it's fine', or a clear preference.

Agreement comes later. Today you only ask and say what you think.

By the end of this lesson

Ask for an opinion and give yours.

  • Tu penses quoi de ___ ?What do you think of ___?
  • Tu as un avis sur ___ ?Do you have a view on ___?
  • Je pense que c'est une bonne idée.I think it's a good idea.
  • À mon avis, la version courte, c'est mieux.In my opinion, the short version is better.
  • Je dirais que ça va.I'd say it's fine.
  • Je préférerais la version courte.I'd rather go with the short version.

Scene — coffee after the meeting

The meeting has just ended. Claire and Sam take a round table at Café des Tilleuls, two metro stops from the office.

Odile has already set down two coffees. Gaspard sits at the next table on two chairs, croissant in reach, café crème still full.

The window table stays empty, blank brass sign in place.

After the meeting, Claire and Sam sit at a round café table with two coffees while Gaspard occupies the next table and the window table stays empty.

Learn — ask and give a view

Six lines let you ask for an opinion and give one of your own.

You'll get a casual ask, a calmer request for a view, then four ways to answer.

  1. Claire leans forward at the round table and opens a hand toward Sam as she asks what he thinks.

    Tu penses quoi de ___ ?

    What do you think of ___?

    When to use it: Ask a friend or teammate what they think of something.

    Use tu with Claire and Gaspard; they already sit with you as regulars.

    Say it: Quoi starts with a k sound, so the s in penses stays silent.

  2. Sam turns toward Claire at the same table, a finger on the saucer, as he gives his view.

    Tu as un avis sur ___ ?

    Do you have a view on ___?

    When to use it: Ask if someone has a view, a bit calmer than the first line.

    Avis here means a view or opinion on a topic.

    Say it: In as un, the s links as a z sound.

  3. Over Sam's shoulder, Claire nods and flattens a palm on the table, treating the idea as a good one.

    Je pense que c'est une bonne idée.

    I think it's a good idea.

    When to use it: Give a clear positive opinion after someone asks what you think.

    Use je pense que before a full thought, like it is a good idea.

    Say it: In c'est une, the t links into une.

  4. From above, Sam holds both hands a short span apart over a blank sheet while Gaspard sits on two chairs at the next table.

    À mon avis, la version courte, c'est mieux.

    In my opinion, the short version is better.

    When to use it: Put your view first, then name the option you think is better.

    À mon avis comes first; then you name what you think is better.

  5. Claire, alone in frame, gives a small shrug and lifts a cup halfway, treating the point as only fine.

    Je dirais que ça va.

    I'd say it's fine.

    When to use it: Give a mild view when something is only okay, not great.

    Here ça va means the thing is only fine, not a greeting.

  6. Sam taps the nearer edge of a blank sheet, choosing the shorter option, with Claire's hand at the far edge of the table.

    Je préférerais la version courte.

    I'd rather go with the short version.

    When to use it: Say which option you would rather choose.

    Préférerais names the option you would rather take.

Story — the short version

Claire asks Sam what he thinks of the short tour, then Gaspard cuts in with a croissant.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The coffees are still warm. Claire looks at Sam.
  2. ClaireTu penses quoi de la version courte ?What do you think of the short version?
  3. SamJe préférerais la version courte.I'd rather go with the short version.
  4. ClaireÀ mon avis, la version courte, c'est mieux.In my opinion, the short version is better.
  5. She turns the screen so Sam can see the script.
  6. ClaireTu as un avis sur le script ?Do you have a view on the script?
  7. SamJe pense que c'est une bonne idée.I think it's a good idea.
  8. Gaspard leans in from the next table. His café crème is still full.
  9. GaspardTu penses quoi de ce croissant ?What do you think of this croissant?
  10. SamJe dirais que ça va.I'd say it's fine.
  11. GaspardJe préfère ça.I prefer that.
  12. Claire looks back at the laptop. The window table stays empty.
  13. ClaireTu as un avis sur le son ?Do you have a view on the sound?
  14. SamJe dirais que ça va.I'd say it's fine.

Practice — your take

Ten short tasks: listen, match, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.

You'll also pick a meaning by ear and say what fits the moment.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    French

    Je pense que c'est une bonne idée.Drop the English here
    À mon avis, la version courte, c'est mieux.Drop the English here
    Je préférerais la version courte.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its French, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Claire asks which tour length you would rather use.

  4. Fill the gap

    I think it's a good idea.

    Je pense que c'est une ____ idée.

  5. What does it mean?

    Je dirais que ça va.

  6. Swap the word

    You think the short version of the tour is better.

    À mon avis, la version ____, c'est mieux.

  7. What do you say?

    You want Claire's view on the sound for the tour.

  8. Build the line

    In my opinion, the short version is better.

    , , .

    Tap the words in order.

  9. True or false?

    This line means you prefer that.

  10. Pick the reply

    Claire says:

    Le musée va aimer, non ?

    The museum will like it, right?

    And you reply with:

Say it — say what you think

Now you're Sam after the meeting at the café. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. ClaireTu penses quoi de la version courte ?What do you think of the short version?
  2. Sam (you)Tell her you'd rather go with the short version.

    Je préférerais la version courte.

    I'd rather go with the short version.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Tu penses quoi de ___ ?What do you think of ___?
Tu as un avis sur ___ ?Do you have a view on ___?
Je pense que c'est une bonne idée.I think it's a good idea.
À mon avis, la version courte, c'est mieux.In my opinion, the short version is better.
Je dirais que ça va.I'd say it's fine.
Je préférerais la version courte.I'd rather go with the short version.
Next: lesson 159Mixed feelings

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