7/27/2019 Ielts opinion linking

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ielts-opinion-linking 1/3

[IELTS] Opinion linkers

©2008 www.teachitworld.com 9124 Page 1 of 3

Expressing and justifying opinons

Exercse1

Read these sentences showing some linkers which express and justifyopinions. Look out for when you need to use commas and also when you needa verb in the opinion you are giving.

a)   In my opinion, capitalism has serious weaknesses.

 b)  I think that  women will become increasingly powerful in society.

c)   I would say that the age of the monarchy is dead.

d)  I believe this to be the case because there is so much evidence to support it.

e)  I hold this view because of the quality of the research of Smith and Johnson.

f)  I am of this opinion due to the recent events in Bosnia.

Exercse2

Look at this summary of the construction of sentence a):

In my opinion + comma + clause.

and of sentence e):

Clause + because of + noun phrase.

Note

 You need to decide whether you need to write ‘clause’ or a ‘noun phrase’ for each one.

 A ‘noun phrase’ is a pronoun or any group of words that can be replaced by apronoun, e.g. ‘it’ or ‘the dog in the park’

 A ‘clause’ contains a subject, a verb, and sometimes more information, e.g. ‘Johndrives’ or ‘John plays rugby’

Now do the same for:

 b) ...........................................................................................................................................................  

c) ...........................................................................................................................................................  

d) ...........................................................................................................................................................  

f) ............................................................................................................................................................  

7/27/2019 Ielts opinion linking

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ielts-opinion-linking 2/3

[IELTS] Opinion linkers

©2008 www.teachitworld.com 9124 Page 2 of 3

Exercse3

Put a correct linker in each gap.

a)  I think this is the case ............................................................ the number of people

 without passports.

 b)  ............................................................, modern poetry is very difficult to penetrate.

c)  ............................................................ the situation in the Middle East will be very

difficult to solve.

d)  I don’t believe in Marxism ...........................................................so many countries have

turned their backs on it.

Exercse4

Use the prompts below to express your opinion. You also have to justify eachone!

a)  Third World debt

....................................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................  

 b)  the drugs trade

....................................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................

 

c)  the fashion industry

....................................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................  

d)  prostitution

....................................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................................  

7/27/2019 Ielts opinion linking

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ielts-opinion-linking 3/3

[IELTS] Opinion linkers

©2008 www.teachitworld.com 9124 Page 3 of 3

TEACHER'S NOTES & KEY

 Aim: (IELTS writing skills) to revise and practise the linkers which express and justifyopinions.Topics: various

Lesson timings: exercises 1–2: 10 minutes; exercise 3: 5 minutes; exercise 4: 10 minutes;Total: 25 minutes

Exercses 1and 2

 Write the first sentence (with a gap) on the board and ask students what they would linkthe ideas with. Hand out the worksheets and ask students to look at exercises 1 and 2 inpairs.

 b)  I think that + clause.c)  I would say that + clause.

a)  Clause + because + clause. b)  Clause + due to + noun phrase.

Exercse3

a)   because of

 b)  In my opinion

c)  I think that

d)  Because

Exercse4 suggested answers)

a)  I think Third World debt should be written off because people in poorer countries arestarving.

 b)  In my opinion, the drugs trade is one of the most serious threats to society. I hold this view because of what I’ve read in newspapers about Colombia.

c)  I would say that the fashion industry is a very significant employer in developedcountries. I believe this to be the case because fashion houses like Gucci are veryimportant in Italy.

d)  I think that prostitution is inevitable. I hold this view because it so widespreadthroughout the world.