| Functions | Indirect | Direct |
| expressing an opinion / explaining | In my opinion it would be better to postpone the meeting. | It is... without opening phrases |
| In my (personal) view no repair work is necessary. | ||
| Personally, I (don't) feel you're making the best choice. | ||
| / reckon/ guess she's the last person to ask for compassion. | ||
| To the best of my knowledge, this line of action is widely practiced. | ||
| As far as I know to find the right decision is not that simple. | ||
| If I'm not mistaken, the matter was highlighted in Issues #2. | ||
| I 'd like to mention that it has been discussed time and again. |
Generalising opinions
While expressing your attitude, it often becomes necessary to "conceal" your personal view, to mask it by a general statement (as if referring to something that is considered common knowledge) and thus avoid the risk of sounding dogmatic. Different impersonal and probability phrases do well for this purpose.
Consider the examples below illustrating different ways of generalising opinions. Think of more examples possible for some other functions of English.
| Functions | Examples |
| expressing an opinion | I know well that language learning takes time. |
| It is well known that language learning takes time. | |
| I don't know for sure. | |
| One can't know for sure, it depends on many things. | |
| It's not a proper way to treat animals. | |
| They say it's not a proper way to treat animals. | |
| complaining | Our lunch is delayed. |
| It appears that our lunch is likely to be delayed. | |
| correcting | You are mistaken, this horse came first. |
| You happen to be mistaken, this horse came first. | |
| expressing a critical opinion | You forget some essential details. |
| You seem to forget some essential details. |
Task 9. Make the following phrases indirect (you can also add fillers and verbs of intention if
Necessary). (Choose any 5 sentences).
1. Why do you think he did poorly in the exam?
2. It is his fault.
3. It's due to the time limit. It was too short.
4. You should always leave time to check your answers.
5. Something's gone wrong.
6. The examination board postponed the final decision.
7. You can persuade them to look it all over again.
8. They are not ready with the results, it looks like that.
9. Oh, I can't know for sure.
10. I'd say we unanimously accept that tests take a lot of revising.
11. You can't learn English in a fortnight.
12. He is making a grave mistake.
13. He just doesn't care a bit for language learning.
14. He could turn to intensive methods based on hypnosis.
15. I know well, this approach has a lot of advantages.
16. I doubt that those methods work.
17. My advice is to turn to a professional teacher.
Task 10. Write a brief report on your progress in language learning showing your strong points (as an application for a contest).
Softening with questions
Discussing tactics and techniques
Question form, being softer and sounding less categorical, is a useful device to facilitate the exchange of information and to soften the purport of an order, advice or criticism. Why-questions and yes/ no questions which sound far more polite often soften denials, orders etc., cf: It could wait till morning.
Why couldn't it wait till morning? (pressing offer)
Couldn't it wait till morning? (persuasive question)
Could it wait till morning? (open question)
Commonly, the following types of questions can serve the purpose of reducing straightforwardness.
Types of questions
| persuasive | general: | declarative: | tag: |
| (negative) | a) negative | a) negative | a) negative |
| b) affirmative | b) affirmative | b) non-negative |
The tactics are quite common for the following functions:
suggesting, offering, enquiring, inviting an opinion, requesting, advising, ordering etc.
Softening statements
