🤔 Speaking: Functional Language B1 - Lesson 3: Expressing Opinions, Hopes & Regrets
Welcome! In today's lesson, we'll explore how to share our thoughts. We will learn how to express our opinions, talk about our hopes for the future, and discuss things we regret from the past.
Conversation Scenario: Planning a Weekend Trip
Let's listen to two friends in Phnom Penh discussing their plans. Notice how they share different feelings about their ideas: an opinion1, a hope, and a regret2.
Sokha: Hey, Chantha! For our trip this weekend, in my opinion3, we should go to Kep. The seaside is beautiful at this time of year.
Chantha: That's a good idea! I hope4 the bus isn't too crowded. The last time we travelled on a holiday, it was completely full.
Sokha: I agree. If only I'd5 booked the tickets online last week. We would have guaranteed seats.
Chantha: Don't worry about it! As long as we get there, it will be great. I really think we'll have a fantastic time.
Expressing Opinions: What do you think?
To share your point of view, you can use these common phrases:
- In my opinion,...
- I think... / I believe...
- It seems to me that... (A slightly softer, more indirect way.)
- To be honest,... (Used when you will give a very direct or frank opinion.)
Expressing Hopes: Looking to the future
When you want to talk about something good that you want to happen in the future:
- I hope... (The most common and direct way.)
- Hopefully,... (Used at the beginning of a sentence.)
- I'm hoping for... (+ a noun, e.g., "good weather".)
Expressing Regrets: Looking at the past
When you feel sad or disappointed about something that happened (or didn't happen) in the past:
- I wish I had/hadn't... (+ past participle, e.g., "I wish I had studied harder.")
- If only I had/hadn't... (+ past participle, e.g., "If only I hadn't eaten so much.")
- I regret... (+ verb-ing, e.g., "I regret not calling him.")
🎤 Pronunciation: Linking Sounds
When we speak naturally, we often link words together. This makes our speech smoother.
For Opinions: Try linking the words. "In_my_opinion" sounds like one smooth phrase, not three separate words.
Example: "In_my_opinion, ➘ this coffee is the best."
For Regrets: The "I'd" in "If only I'd" is a contraction of "I had". Practice saying it quickly and smoothly.
Example: "If_only_I'd_known. ➘"
🧠 Practice Quiz: Opinion, Hope, or Regret?
Read the sentences. Decide the function: Opinion, Hope, or Regret?
1. "I wish I hadn't bought this phone. The battery is terrible."
→ Function: Regret. The speaker is unhappy with a past decision.
2. "Hopefully, the new market will open soon."
→ Function: Hope. The speaker wants something good to happen in the future.
3. "It seems to me that this is the quickest way to get to the riverside."
→ Function: Opinion. The speaker is sharing what they believe to be true.
📝 Your Mission: Share Your Thoughts
Your mission this week is to practice sharing your feelings about the past, present, and future.
- Give an Opinion: When talking with a friend about food, a movie, or music, use a phrase like, "In my opinion,..." or "I think..." to share your idea.
- Express a Hope: Talk about next week or next month. What do you want to happen? Start your sentence with "I hope..."
- Mention a small Regret: Think of something small from yesterday or last week you would change. Say, "I wish I had..." For example, "I wish I had tried the street food we saw last night."
Vocabulary Glossary
- Opinion: (Noun) - មតិ (me'te') - A belief or idea you have about something. ↩
- Regret: (Noun) - ការសោកស្ដាយ (kaa saok'sdaay) - A feeling of sadness about something you did or did not do in the past. ↩
- In my opinion: (Phrase) - តាមគំនិតរបស់ខ្ញុំ (taam konit ro'boh khnhom) - A phrase used to introduce your personal belief. ↩
- I hope: (Phrase) - ខ្ញុំសង្ឃឹមថា (khnhom sângkheum thaa) - Used to express a desire for a future outcome. ↩
- If only I'd: (Phrase) - ប្រសិនបើเพียงតែខ្ញុំបាន (brasenbae pieng tae khnhom baan) - A way to express a strong regret about the past. (Short for "If only I had..."). ↩