Italian 104 · Lesson 39
Opinions and Longer Conversations
Give a view, respond thoughtfully and add a reason.
Begin ↓01 / 08
An easy opinion opener
Secondo me, questo posto è troppo caro.
In my opinion, this place is too expensive.
Secondo me means in my opinion. You can follow it with the present-tense sentences you already know.
02 / 08
A preference with a reason
Preferisco mangiare fuori perché non ho voglia di cucinare.
I prefer to eat out because I don’t feel like cooking.
Preferisco gives a personal preference rather than claiming everyone should agree. Follow it with a noun or infinitive.
03 / 08
What you think or believe
Penso che sia una buona idea.
I think it’s a good idea.
Credo che sia aperto.
I think it’s open.
Penso che and credo che introduce a belief. Careful standard Italian commonly uses the subjunctive after them; learn sia here as a useful chunk, without a full new tense chart.
04 / 08
An impression
Mi sembra una buona idea.
It seems like a good idea to me.
Mi sembra caro.
It seems expensive to me.
Mi sembra means it seems to me. A noun or adjective lets you state an impression simply.
05 / 08
Agree or express doubt
Sono d’accordo.
I agree.
Non sono sicuro. / Non sono sicura.
I’m not sure. (man / woman)
Sono d’accordo shows agreement. Sicuro changes to sicura for a woman. Doubt can be a gentle way to disagree.
06 / 08
Keep the structure manageable
Secondo me è interessante.
In my opinion it’s interesting.
Penso che sia interessante.
I think it’s interesting.
Secondo me + è avoids the new form after penso che. Both patterns are useful; do not assume every che phrase takes the same verb form.
07 / 08
Extend the exchange
Secondo me è troppo caro. — Sono d’accordo. Preferisco il bar vicino alla stazione.
I think it’s too expensive. — I agree. I prefer the café near the station.
Sì, costa meno e si mangia bene.
Yes, it costs less and the food is good.
Respond to the other person’s view, then offer a reason and an alternative. Perché and ma make the links clear.
Remember this
Takeaway
Mi sembra una buona idea, ma oggi non posso. Ci vediamo domani?
It seems like a good idea, but I can’t today. Shall we meet tomorrow?
State a view, explain it and leave room for a response. A short connected turn is more useful than a complicated sentence you cannot finish.