Strong and Weak Opinions

Strong and weak opinions collocations dominoes

Instructions for teachers

Photocopy, cut up and shuffle one pack of cards per group of two to four students. You need to cut along each row horizontally and then just the middle vertically, so that the end of one phrase and beginning of the next phrase are together on one card, like dominoes.

Students work together to put the cards together to make a whole circle of phrases. If they need hints, tell them that phrases should go: one strong phrase, then one weak phrase, then one strong phrase etc, around the whole circle.

Give students the suggested answers to check their answers with.

After that, they can:

• Do the brainstorming
• Play an actual game of dominoes with the cards, taking turns trying to go next with the cards in their hand and taking more from the pack if they can’t
• Cut the cards in half and do the matching activity again, but this time without the help of the cards being in domino form
• Read out half a phrase for their partner to complete
• Help their partner make as many strong phrases as they can or as many weak phrases as they can, perhaps by giving them key words and half phrases
• Deal out the cards and try to use a phrase with something written on one half of the card during a discussion to be able to discard that card

 

Cards to cut up

but…	I strongly	believe that…	As far
as I know,…	You took the words right	out of my mouth.	I partially
agree (with…)	There’s no	way (that) I can accept that (…)	My initial
thought on this is…	I’m completely	convinced that…	To the best of my

knowledge,…	I feel exactly	the same way (as… about…)	I feel more
or less the same way  (about…)	I really don’t agree	(with…)	I’m not sure that
I agree (with…)	It seems	clear to me that…	I’m not sure, but I’d
imagine that…	That makes complete	sense.	You could be
right.	That’s exactly what I	was going to say.	I’ve never thought about
this before, but…	I couldn’t agree with you	more.	In my limited
experience,…	There is absolutely	no doubt that…	This is just my
opinion, but…	To be perfectly	frank,…	I can see your point,

 

Suggested answers

Giving strong opinions

• I strongly believe that.
• I’m completely convinced that…
• It seems clear to me that…
• There is absolutely no doubt that…
• To be perfectly frank,…

 

Giving weak opinions

• As far as I know,…
• My initial thought on this is…
• To the best of my knowledge…
• I’m not sure but I’d imagine that…
• I’ve never thought about this before, but…
• In my limited experience,…
• This is just my opinion, but…

 

Strongly agreeing

• You took the words right out of my mouth.
• I feel exactly the same way (as… about…)
• That makes complete sense.
• You took the words right out of my mouth.
• I couldn’t agree with you more.
• That’s exactly what I was going to say.

 

Weakly agreeing

• I partially agree (with…)
• I feel more or less the same way (as… about…)
• You could be right.

 

Strongly disagreeing

• There’s no way (that) I can accept that (…)
• I really don’t agree (with…)

 

Weakly disagreeing/ Politely disagreeing

• I’m not sure that I agree (with…)
• I can see your point, but…

 

Brainstorming stage

Without looking above for now, brainstorm at least two or three phrases into each category below. Phrases not above are also fine, as long as they clearly have strong or weak meanings.

Giving strong opinions

 

 

 

 

 

Giving weak opinions

 

 

 

 

 

Strongly agreeing

 

 

 

 

 

Weakly agreeing

 

 

 

 

 

Strongly disagreeing

 

 

 

 

 

Weakly disagreeing/ Politely disagreeing

 

 

 

 

 

Look above for ideas, first of all with pens down and looking only at the cards. Then brainstorm more useful phrases.

Brainstorm more weakly disagreeing/ politely disagreeing phrases with “but” in the middle.