How to Express Opinions in French: A Guide for Hindi Speakers (B1 Level)
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Table of contents
- Why Learn to Express Opinions in French?
- Common French Opinion Phrases (and When to Use Them)
- 1. Je pense que… (I think that…)
- 2. Je crois que… (I believe that…)
- 3. À mon avis… (In my opinion…)
- 4. Selon moi… (According to me…)
- 5. Il me semble que… (It seems to me that…)
- Grammar Tip: Indicative vs. Subjunctive in Opinion
- Summary Chart: French Opinion Phrases vs. Hindi Equivalents
If you’re learning French and come from a Hindi-speaking background, you might sometimes feel confused when trying to express your opinion. In French, just like in Hindi, there are different ways to say what you think — and understanding how and when to use them is essential to sounding natural and confident.
In this blog post, we’ll break down common French expressions for giving your opinion, explain the grammar rules and tenses they require, and compare them with equivalent Hindi structures to help you grasp them easily.
Why Learn to Express Opinions in French?
Expressing opinions is a crucial part of everyday conversation. Whether you’re talking about food, films, politics, or your favorite city, knowing how to say “I think that…” or “In my opinion…” in French helps you sound more fluent and natural.
Let’s start by looking at the most common French expressions used to express opinions.
Common French Opinion Phrases (and When to Use Them)
| French Expression | English Meaning | Typical Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Je pense que… | I think that… | + Indicative |
| Je crois que… | I believe that… | + Indicative |
| À mon avis… | In my opinion… | + Indicative or phrase |
| Selon moi… | According to me… | + Indicative or phrase |
| Il me semble que… | It seems to me that… | + Indicative |
Let’s now explore these expressions in detail.
1. Je pense que… (I think that…)
Usage: Used to state a personal opinion or belief.
Tense: Followed by the indicative mood because it expresses a belief assumed to be true.
Example:
- French: Je pense que ce film est intéressant.
- Word-by-word: I think that this film is interesting.
- Pronunciation in Hinglish: Juh pohns kuh suh feelm ehz eh-tray-sohn
Hindi Equivalent: Mujhe lagta hai ki yeh film dilchasp hai.
In both Hindi and French, the speaker believes the information is true, so no doubt is expressed. That’s why we use the indicative in French, just like we use the simple present in Hindi.
2. Je crois que… (I believe that…)
Usage: Similar to “je pense que”, it expresses a belief.
Tense: Also followed by the indicative mood.
Example:
- French: Je crois que tu as raison.
- Word-by-word: I believe that you are right.
- Pronunciation in Hinglish: Juh krwah kuh too ah ray-zohn
Hindi Equivalent: Main maanta hoon ki tum sahi ho.
3. À mon avis… (In my opinion…)
Usage: Used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence to soften your opinion or give a personal touch.
Tense: Followed by a full statement, usually with the indicative.
Example:
- French: À mon avis, elle travaille trop.
- Word-by-word: In my opinion, she works too much.
- Pronunciation in Hinglish: Ah mohn ah-vee, ell trah-vai tro
Hindi Equivalent: Mere vichar mein, woh zyada kaam karti hai.
4. Selon moi… (According to me…)
Usage: Very similar to “à mon avis”, but slightly more formal or neutral.
Tense: Again, followed by an indicative sentence.
Example:
- French: Selon moi, c’est une bonne idée.
- Word-by-word: According to me, it’s a good idea.
- Pronunciation in Hinglish: Suh-lohn mwah, seh-tyoon bon ee-day
Hindi Equivalent: Mere hisaab se, yeh ek achhi soch hai.
5. Il me semble que… (It seems to me that…)
Usage: Used when you want to be more polite or less direct with your opinion.
Tense: Typically followed by the indicative, unless expressing doubt.
Example:
- French: Il me semble que tu es fatigué.
- Word-by-word: It seems to me that you are tired.
- Pronunciation in Hinglish: Eel muh sahmbl kuh too eh fah-tee-gay
Hindi Equivalent: Mujhe lagta hai ki tum thake hue ho.
Both mean “I think that,” but je pense que is slightly more reflective, while je crois que suggests belief. Grammatically, they both take the indicative mood.
Use the subjunctive when expressing doubt or negation, e.g., Je ne pense pas que… (I don’t think that…).
Most French opinion phrases have direct Hindi equivalents, such as Je pense que = Mujhe lagta hai ki…, making them easier for Hindi speakers to learn.
Grammar Tip: Indicative vs. Subjunctive in Opinion
When expressing an opinion with certainty or belief, French uses the indicative mood.
But if you say “I don’t think that…” (je ne pense pas que…), it introduces doubt, so French uses the subjunctive mood.
Compare:
- Je pense que tu as raison. → Indicative (I think you’re right.)
- Je ne pense pas que tu aies raison. → Subjunctive (I don’t think you’re right.)
Hindi Comparison:
- Mujhe lagta hai ki tum sahi ho. (certainty)
- Mujhe nahi lagta ki tum sahi ho. (doubt)
French uses different verb moods in these cases, unlike Hindi which keeps the same structure.
Summary Chart: French Opinion Phrases vs. Hindi Equivalents
| French Phrase | Meaning | Hindi Equivalent | Mood Used in French |
|---|---|---|---|
| Je pense que… | I think that… | Mujhe lagta hai ki… | Indicative |
| Je crois que… | I believe that… | Main maanta hoon ki… | Indicative |
| À mon avis… | In my opinion… | Mere vichar mein… | Indicative |
| Selon moi… | According to me… | Mere hisaab se… | Indicative |
| Il me semble que… | It seems to me that… | Mujhe lagta hai ki… | Indicative/Subjunct. |
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