How to give your opinion in French
J'ai adoré ce film parce que la fin est incroyable.
“I loved that film because the ending is amazing.”
When: Rating a film, a meal or a place
The moment
Over lunch with French colleagues near Bastille, the table starts rating a new bistro and a film everyone has seen. You give your opinion with a reason, back one person up, and disagree with another without souring the mood.
A2 · Unit 4 · Small talk & stories
The lines
Verdict first, reason after
A French opinion sounds unfinished without a because. Give the verdict, then justify it with 'parce que': 'J'ai adoré ce film parce que la fin est incroyable.' Swap adoré for bien aimé when you only liked it.
J'ai adoré ce film parce que la fin est incroyable.
“I loved that film because the ending is amazing.”
When to use it: Rating a film, a meal or a place
What you’ll hear back: Ah oui ? Moi aussi, j'ai bien aimé. (Oh yeah? Me too, I liked it.)
Disagreeing softly
Open with 'moi' so it lands as your taste rather than a verdict on theirs, and soften with 'un peu trop'. 'Je trouve ça' plus an adjective is the everyday opinion machine.
Ah bon ? Moi, je trouve ça un peu trop touristique.
“Really? I find it a bit too touristy.”
When to use it: When your opinion clashes with theirs
What you’ll hear back: C'est vrai qu'il y a beaucoup de monde. (True, there are a lot of people there.)
Words for this scene
| French | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ah oui, c'est clair ! | ah WEE, say KLEHR | Oh yes, definitely! |
Ah oui, c'est clair, leur tarte au citron est incroyable. Oh yes, definitely, their lemon tart is incredible. Tip: The everyday agreement; je suis d'accord sounds like a meeting. | ||
| Bof, pas terrible. | BOFF, pah teh-REEBL | Meh, not great. |
Le nouveau bistro ? Bof, pas terrible, franchement. The new bistro? Meh, not great, honestly. Tip: Pas terrible means disappointing, never terrific: a classic false friend. | ||
| Chacun ses goûts. | shah-KUHN say GOO | To each their own. |
Vous n'aimez pas la coriandre ? Bon, chacun ses goûts ! You don't like coriander? Well, to each their own! Tip: Ends a taste debate with a shrug: no winner, no offence. | ||
Your objective
Say what you thought of a place or a film and why, then disagree politely with one thing they say.
- your opinion
- a reason
- a polite disagreement
Lines that get it done
- J'ai adoré ce film parce que la fin est incroyable.
- Ah bon ? Moi, je trouve ça un peu trop touristique.
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You loved a film and want to give your reason. Which sentence works?
- J'ai adoré ce film parce que la fin est incroyable.
- J'ai adoré ce film pour que la fin est incroyable.
- Je suis adoré ce film parce que la fin est incroyable.
- J'ai adoré ce film parce que la fin sera incroyable.
Show the answer
J'ai adoré ce film parce que la fin est incroyable.
Adorer takes avoir and parce que introduces the reason; pour que means so that.
2. A colleague says a restaurant was 'pas terrible'. What does that mean?
- It was not very good.
- It was terrific.
- It was frightening.
- It was far too expensive.
Show the answer
It was not very good.
Pas terrible is the French way of calling something disappointing.
3. Everyone praises a neighbourhood you find too touristy. What is the gentlest way in?
- Ah bon ? Moi, je trouve ça un peu trop touristique.
- Non, vous avez tort, c'est vraiment trop touristique.
- Ah bon ? Je trouve ça très touristique et très mauvais.
- Non, c'est faux, il y a beaucoup trop de touristes.
Show the answer
Ah bon ? Moi, je trouve ça un peu trop touristique.
Moi plus un peu trop frames it as your own taste instead of contradicting them.