Opinions & Attitudes
Words for expressing opinions, preferences, and attitudes
Overview
25 essential A2 words for expressing opinions, attitudes, and making judgments about things.
Words
actually /ˈæktʃuəli/
adverb — A2
Meaning: in fact; used to correct or add surprising information
Examples:
- I actually enjoyed the movie.
- She’s actually quite shy.
Collocations: actually, I think…; not actually
agree /əˈɡriː/
verb — A2
Meaning: to share the same opinion
Examples:
- Do you agree with this plan?
- We all agreed that it was a good idea.
Collocations: agree with, agree to, agree on
Word Family: agree (v.) → agreement (n.) → disagreement (n.)
allow /əˈlaʊ/
verb — A2
Meaning: to let someone do something; to permit
Examples:
- Are dogs allowed in this park?
- My parents don’t allow me to stay out late.
Collocations: allow someone to, be allowed, not allowed
argue /ˈɑːɡjuː/
verb — A2
Meaning: to disagree with someone, often angrily
Examples:
- They always argue about money.
- Don’t argue with your mother.
Collocations: argue about, argue with, argue that
Word Family: argue (v.) → argument (n.)
attention /əˈtenʃn/
noun — A2
Meaning: the act of watching, listening, or thinking carefully
Examples:
- Pay attention to the teacher.
- The bright sign attracted my attention.
Collocations: pay attention, attract attention, attention to detail
avoid /əˈvɔɪd/
verb — A2
Meaning: to keep away from; to try not to do something
Examples:
- I try to avoid eating too much sugar.
- She avoided looking at him.
Collocations: avoid doing, try to avoid, avoid mistakes
certain /ˈsɜːtn/
adjective — A2
Meaning: sure; having no doubt
Examples:
- Are you certain about that?
- I’m not certain what time the meeting starts.
Collocations: certain about, for certain, certain that
Word Family: certain (adj.) → certainly (adv.) → uncertainty (n.)
consider /kənˈsɪdər/
verb — A2
Meaning: to think about something carefully
Examples:
- We need to consider all the options.
- Have you considered moving abroad?
Collocations: consider doing, be considered, consider carefully
Word Family: consider (v.) → consideration (n.) → considerable (adj.)
definitely /ˈdefɪnətli/
adverb — A2
Meaning: without any doubt; for sure
Examples:
- I’ll definitely be there.
- This is definitely the best restaurant in town.
Collocations: definitely not, most definitely
depend /dɪˈpend/
verb — A2
Meaning: to be decided by; to rely on
Examples:
- It depends on the weather.
- You can depend on me.
Collocations: depend on, it depends, depend upon
Word Family: depend (v.) → dependent (adj.) → independence (n.)
doubt /daʊt/
noun, verb — A2
Meaning: (n.) a feeling of uncertainty; (v.) to feel uncertain
Examples:
- I have no doubt that she’ll succeed.
- I doubt he’ll come to the party.
Collocations: no doubt, without doubt, doubt that
Word Family: doubt (n./v.) → doubtful (adj.)
expect /ɪkˈspekt/
verb — A2
Meaning: to think something will happen
Examples:
- I expect the train will be late.
- She didn’t expect to win.
Collocations: expect to, as expected, expect the worst
Word Family: expect (v.) → expectation (n.) → unexpected (adj.)
fair /feər/
adjective — A2
Meaning: treating everyone equally; reasonable
Examples:
- That’s not fair!
- I think the price is fair.
Collocations: fair enough, fair play, it’s not fair
Word Family: fair (adj.) → fairly (adv.) → unfair (adj.) → fairness (n.)
instead /ɪnˈsted/
adverb — A2
Meaning: in place of something else
Examples:
- I’ll have tea instead of coffee.
- Let’s walk instead of taking the bus.
Collocations: instead of, instead, do … instead
mind /maɪnd/
noun, verb — A2
Meaning: (n.) the thinking part of you; (v.) to care or be bothered
Examples:
- Do you mind if I sit here?
- I changed my mind about the trip.
Collocations: never mind, change your mind, make up your mind, mind you
opinion /əˈpɪnjən/
noun — A2
Meaning: what you think about something
Examples:
- In my opinion, the book is better than the movie.
- What’s your opinion on this?
Collocations: in my opinion, public opinion, strong opinion
perhaps /pəˈhæps/
adverb — A2
Meaning: possibly; maybe
Examples:
- Perhaps we should leave now.
- She’s perhaps the best singer in the country.
Collocations: perhaps not, perhaps so, or perhaps
prefer /prɪˈfɜːr/
verb — A2
Meaning: to like one thing better than another
Examples:
- I prefer tea to coffee.
- She prefers working from home.
Collocations: prefer to, prefer doing, much prefer
Word Family: prefer (v.) → preference (n.) → preferable (adj.)
promise /ˈprɒmɪs/
verb, noun — A2
Meaning: to say you will definitely do something
Examples:
- I promise I’ll be on time.
- She kept her promise.
Collocations: make a promise, keep a promise, I promise
purpose /ˈpɜːpəs/
noun — A2
Meaning: the reason for doing something
Examples:
- What’s the purpose of this meeting?
- She did it on purpose.
Collocations: on purpose, sense of purpose, for the purpose of
realize /ˈriːəlaɪz/
verb — A2
Meaning: to become aware of something
Examples:
- I didn’t realize the time.
- She suddenly realized she was lost.
Collocations: realize that, suddenly realize, fail to realize
seem /siːm/
verb — A2
Meaning: to appear to be
Examples:
- She seems very happy.
- It seems like a good idea.
Collocations: seem to, seem like, it seems
suggest /səˈdʒest/
verb — A2
Meaning: to propose an idea or plan
Examples:
- I suggest we take a break.
- Can you suggest a good restaurant?
Collocations: suggest that, suggest doing, strongly suggest
Word Family: suggest (v.) → suggestion (n.)
suppose /səˈpəʊz/
verb — A2
Meaning: to think something is likely; to assume
Examples:
- I suppose you’re right.
- What do you suppose happened?
Collocations: I suppose so, be supposed to, suppose that
whether /ˈweðər/
conjunction — A2
Meaning: used to express a choice between alternatives
Examples:
- I don’t know whether to go or stay.
- I wonder whether he’ll come.
Collocations: whether or not, decide whether, know whether
Quick Review
| Word | Type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| actually | adv. | in fact |
| agree | v. | share opinion |
| allow | v. | permit |
| argue | v. | disagree angrily |
| attention | n. | careful focus |
| avoid | v. | keep away from |
| certain | adj. | sure |
| consider | v. | think carefully |
| definitely | adv. | without doubt |
| depend | v. | rely on |
| doubt | n./v. | uncertainty |
| expect | v. | anticipate |
| fair | adj. | equal; reasonable |
| instead | adv. | in place of |
| mind | n./v. | thinking; to care |
| opinion | n. | personal view |
| perhaps | adv. | maybe |
| prefer | v. | like better |
| promise | v./n. | guarantee |
| purpose | n. | reason |
| realize | v. | become aware |
| seem | v. | appear to be |
| suggest | v. | propose |
| suppose | v. | assume |
| whether | conj. | if (choice) |