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Lesson 147 of 238

New here? This is lesson 147 of a free 238-lesson Spanish course.

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The way I see it in Spanish

Opinions, gently. Today Justin stops by Alex's shop, and Alex wants to know what he thinks of a new schedule.

You'll learn six ways to handle opinions in Spanish: how to ask for one, how to back an idea, and two graceful ways to say where you're coming from.

Nobody fights today. They disagree politely, the way café regulars do, and Yako sleeps through most of it.

By the end of this lesson

Give an opinion, back an idea, and see someone's point.

  • ¿Qué opinas de ___?What do you think of ___?
  • Creo que ___ es una buena ideaI think ___ is a good idea
  • En mi opinión, ___In my opinion, ___
  • Yo lo veo asíThe way I see it
  • Entiendo tu punto, pero ___I see your point, but ___
  • Desde mi punto de vista, ___From where I'm standing, ___

Scene — a new schedule on the counter

A quiet Tuesday afternoon at Alex's shop. Justin stops in after work, and Yako is dozing on his two chairs by the window.

Alex has a piece of paper on the counter: a brand-new schedule for the shop. He wants Justin's honest opinion before he pins it up.

A quiet shop interior where Alex holds a paper schedule at the counter while Justin stands nearby and Yako dozes on two chairs by the window.

Learn — six ways to open an opinion

Six phrases, one job each: asking for an opinion, giving yours, and half-agreeing before you push back.

Notice how often Spanish and English open opinions the same way.

  1. Alex gestures toward the blank paper on the counter, asking Justin what he thinks of it.

    ¿Qué opinas de ___?

    What do you think of ___?

    When to use it: Ask this to get someone's opinion about a plan, a person, or a thing.

    Opinas comes from opinar, to have an opinion.

  2. Justin smiles and nods approvingly at the paper on the counter.

    Creo que ___ es una buena idea

    I think ___ is a good idea

    When to use it: Say this when a plan or suggestion sounds good to you.

    Idea is feminine, so it takes una buena idea.

  3. Justin leans on the counter, hand on his chest, giving his opinion with a thoughtful expression.

    En mi opinión, ___

    In my opinion, ___

    When to use it: Use this phrase to introduce your opinion clearly.

    It works just like in English: say it first, then the opinion.

  4. Justin holds up a hand, framing the air like a picture, explaining how he sees it.

    Yo lo veo así

    The way I see it

    When to use it: Say this right before you explain how you see a situation.

    The yo adds a little emphasis: as for me.

    Say it: The v in veo sounds like a soft English b.

  5. Alex nods slowly with one hand raised, acknowledging the point while preparing a gentle counterpoint.

    Entiendo tu punto, pero ___

    I see your point, but ___

    When to use it: Use this to agree partly before you say what you think.

    It softens the pero, just like the English but does.

  6. Justin stands back from the counter with hands apart, describing the situation from his own point of view.

    Desde mi punto de vista, ___

    From where I'm standing, ___

    When to use it: Use this to offer an opinion from your own experience.

    It literally means from my point of view.

Story — a polite disagreement

Nobody is fighting today, just a friendly disagreement about schedules. Watch how each opinion gets its own opener.

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

  1. A quiet Tuesday at the shop. Yako dozes on his two chairs by the window.
  2. AlexJustin, mira. Quiero cambiar el horario de la tienda.Justin, look. I want to change the shop's schedule.
  3. Alex¿Qué opinas del horario nuevo?What do you think of the new schedule?
  4. JustinCreo que el horario nuevo es una buena idea.I think the new schedule is a good idea.
  5. Alex¿Por qué?Why?
  6. JustinYo lo veo así: abrimos tarde y perdemos clientes.The way I see it: we open late and lose customers.
  7. AlexYo digo que cerremos a las dos los sábados.I say we close at two on Saturdays.
  8. JustinEntiendo tu punto, pero los sábados vienen muchos clientes.I see your point, but a lot of customers come on Saturdays.
  9. AlexHmm, tienes razón.Hmm, you're right.
  10. JustinDesde mi punto de vista, abrir a las ocho es mejor.From where I'm standing, opening at eight is better.
  11. AlexEn mi opinión, abrir a las ocho es demasiado temprano.In my opinion, opening at eight is too early.
  12. Justin¿Y qué te parece abrir a las nueve?And what do you think of opening at nine?
  13. AlexBuena idea. Quedamos así.Good idea. Let's leave it at that.
  14. YakoYo lo veo así: primero el café, luego el horario.The way I see it: coffee first, schedule later.
  15. AlexToda la razón, Yako.You're absolutely right, Yako.

Practice — pick your opener

Eleven short exercises: listen, match, fill, and rebuild these opinion openers until they come out on their own.

Start easy with the listening one, and end by putting a whole little chat in order.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    ¿Qué opinas de ___?Drop the English here
    Creo que ___ es una buena ideaDrop the English here
    En mi opinión, ___Drop the English here
    Entiendo tu punto, pero ___Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. Fill the gap

    What do you think of ___?

    ¿Qué opinas ____ ___?

  4. What do you say?

    Alex suggests opening the shop at nine, and you honestly like the plan.

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Pick the reply

    Alex says:

    Hice un horario nuevo, pero no me decido: abrir a las ocho o a las nueve…

    I made a new schedule, but I can't decide: open at eight or at nine…

    And you reply with:

  7. What does it mean?

    Desde mi punto de vista, ___

  8. What do you say?

    Alex wants to close at two on Saturdays. You partly agree, but you want to add that Saturdays are busy.

  9. What does it mean?

    ¿Qué te parece?

  10. Put the chat in order

    1. AlexWhat comes first?
    2. Justin…
    3. Alex…
    4. Justin…

    Tap the line that comes next, or drag it into the chat.

  11. True or false?

    This line shows you like someone's suggestion.

Say it — your turn to opine

Now you're Justin, and Alex wants your opinion before the schedule goes up. Tap the microphone when it's your turn.

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

  1. Alex¿Qué opinas del horario nuevo?What do you think of the new schedule?
  2. Justin (you)Say you think the new schedule is a good idea.

    Creo que ___ es una buena idea

    I think ___ is a good idea

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
¿Qué opinas de ___?What do you think of ___?
Creo que ___ es una buena ideaI think ___ is a good idea
En mi opinión, ___In my opinion, ___
Yo lo veo asíThe way I see it
Entiendo tu punto, pero ___I see your point, but ___
Desde mi punto de vista, ___From where I'm standing, ___
Next: lesson 148I'm for it

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want these opinion openers handy for your next chat? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps all six opinion openers ready to go.

Open Yak Cards