Welcome to Expressing Your Views!

In your AQA AS Spanish course, being able to say "I think..." is just the starting point. To reach the higher marks in Paper 2 (Writing) and Paper 3 (Speaking), you need to show variety, justify why you feel that way, and interact with other people’s ideas. This chapter will give you the "linguistic toolkit" to move from simple sentences to sophisticated AS-level arguments. Don't worry if these phrases seem long at first. Once you start using them to talk about topics like El ciberespacio or La igualdad de los sexos, they will become second nature!

1. How to Express Your Opinion

Instead of using "Creo que..." (I think that...) every time, try to vary your vocabulary. This helps your AO3 score (Language Manipulation).

The "Standard" Phrases

En mi opinión... – In my opinion...
Desde mi punto de vista... – From my point of view...
A mi modo de ver... – As I see it...
Para mí... – For me...
Me parece que... – It seems to me that...

The "Sophisticated" Phrases

A mi juicio... – In my judgement...
Sostengo que... – I maintain that...
Considero que... – I consider that...
Si tuviera que dar mi opinión, diría que... – If I had to give my opinion, I would say that... (This uses the conditional tense, which examiners love!)

Quick Tip: Remember that creo que and pienso que are followed by the indicative (normal) verb. However, if you make them negative (No creo que...), you must use the subjunctive!


2. Justifying Your Opinion

An opinion without a reason is just a statement. In your Paper 3 Speaking exam, the examiner will always look for "Why?". Use these connectors to link your thoughts.

Adding "Because"

...ya que / puesto que / dado que – ...since / given that (Better than just using porque).
...debido a... – ...due to...
...a causa de... – ...because of...

Providing Evidence

Como se puede ver en... – As can be seen in...
Es un hecho que... – It is a fact that...
Lo que demuestra que... – Which demonstrates that...

Example: "A mi modo de ver, el machismo todavía existe, ya que las mujeres suelen ganar menos que los hombres." (As I see it, sexism still exists, since women usually earn less than men.)


3. Agreeing and Disagreeing

In Paper 3, you will have a discussion based on a stimulus card. You might need to react to a statement or the examiner's point of view.

Agreeing

Estoy de acuerdo con... – I agree with...
Tienes razón. – You are right.
Es verdad que... – It’s true that...
Comparto esta opinión. – I share this opinion.
Totalmente / Exactamente. – Totally / Exactly.

Disagreeing

No estoy de acuerdo. – I don’t agree.
Al contrario... – On the contrary...
No creo que sea así. – I don’t think that’s the case. (Note the subjunctive sea!)
Eso no es del todo cierto. – That’s not entirely true.

The Middle Ground (Nuance)

Hasta cierto punto, pero... – Up to a point, but...
Depende de... – It depends on...
Por un lado... por otro lado... – On one hand... on the other hand...


4. Reacting with Emotion (Subjunctive Triggers)

To hit the top marks for AO3, you should use "impersonal expressions" that trigger the subjunctive. These show how you feel about a situation.

Es una lástima que... (+ subjunctive) – It's a shame that...
Es sorprendente que... (+ subjunctive) – It's surprising that...
Es increíble que... (+ subjunctive) – It's incredible that...
Me molesta que... (+ subjunctive) – It bothers me that...

Example: "Es una lástima que haya tanta discriminación hoy en día." (It’s a shame that there is so much discrimination nowadays.)


5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. "En mi opinión personal" – Avoid this! "In my opinion" is already personal. Just say "En mi opinión".
2. "Estoy de acuerdo de..." – The correct preposition is con. (Estoy de acuerdo con Juan).
3. Forgetting the 'que' – Most opinion verbs need que before the next clause. (Creo que es importante...).


Summary: Key Takeaways

  • Variety is key: Don't repeat "creo que". Use "desde mi punto de vista" or "considero que".
  • Always justify: Use ya que or puesto que to explain your reasons.
  • Interaction: In the speaking exam, use "tienes razón" or "no estoy de acuerdo" to engage with the examiner.
  • The Subjunctive: Use phrases like "Es una pena que..." to show off your grammar skills.

For more vocabulary specific to topics like the environment or regional identity, please see the chapters on "Family, marriage and religion vocabulary" or "Traditions, gastronomy, languages and regions vocabulary".