1. Using emphasis to modify your opinions.

Listen to the questions below. For each question you will hear two answers. Are the answers the same or different?

2. Expressing opinions with quite.

If you express an opinion using quite with an adjective or adverb, the opinion sounds more positive if you emphasise the adjective or adverb.

Listen to this example:

A: What was the weather like?
B: It was quite nice.

The same opinion sounds less positive if you emphasise quite:

A: What was the weather like?
B: It was quite nice.

3. Practice.

You will hear the questions from exercise 1 again, this time with one answer.

Choose A smiling emogi face. if the opinion in the answer is positive.
Remember: An opinion is positive if the adjective or adverb is emphasised.

Choose A neutral emoji face. if the answer is not very positive.
Remember: An opinion is not very positive if quite is emphasised.


Listen and choose the correct option.

4. Practice.

Here are the answers to the previous exercise. Listen again and select the word in the answer that is emphasised.

5. Listen and repeat.

Listen to the dialogues again. Pause the recording after each dialogue and repeat the answer.

1. A: What did you think of the exhibition?
  B: It was quite good.
2. A: What did you think of the match?
  B: I thought they played quite well.
3. A: What was the weather like?
  B: It was quite nice.
4. A: Did you see that documentary last night?
  B: Yeah. It was quite interesting.
5. A: What's Arthur's flat like?
  B: It's quite big.
6. A: Were there many people at the party?
  B: Yeah. Quite a lot.
7. A: What do you think of the new computer?
  B: It's quite fast.
8. A: Did you enjoy the show?
  B: It was quite funny.

 

6. Listen.

Listen to eight more questions. Click on the word that is emphasised in each answer.

7. Listen again.

Listen again to the first dialogue.

Which answer is positive? A smiling emogi face.
Which answer is less positive? A neutral emoji face.

Click on one of the faces to select your answer.

8. Qualifying opinions.

Question: What do you think of that Italian restaurant?
Opinion: I love the food there.

You can make your opinions positive or less positive by using emphasis. Love is a positive word. If you emphasise love, your opinion sounds positive. Listen:

What do you think of that Italian restaurant?
I love the food there.

Food refers to one aspect of the restaurant. If you emphasise food, you qualify your opinion and make it less positive. This suggests that you think other aspects of the restaurant are not positive. Listen:

What do you think of that Italian restaurant?
I love the food there.

9. Listen again.

Listen to the dialogues again. Click on A smiling emogi face. if the answer is positive or A neutral emoji face. if the answer is qualified (less positive).

10. Negative opinions.

Choose the correct qualified opinions from the dialogues for the negative opinions that they suggest.

Listen and check your answers.

11. Practice.

Listen to the dialogues. Pause the recording after each dialogue and repeat the answer.

 

1. A: What do you think of that Italian restaurant?
  B: I love the food there, but the service is terrible.
2. A: What do you think of this painting?
  B: The colours are great, but it's too abstract for me.
3. A: What did you think of the film?
  B: The acting was really good, but the special effects were awful.
4. A: What did you think of my family?
  B: Your mum's very friendly, but your father's very short-tempered.
5. A: What do you think of my shoes?
  B: They look good, but they're not very good quality.
6. A: What do you think of the book I lent you?
  B: I thought the story was great, but I found it difficult to read.
7. A: How do you think Sheila is?
  B: She sounded happy, but I don't think she really is.
8. A: What did you think of Mallorca?
  B: The beaches are fantastic, but the hotel was very uncomfortable.