Language/Standard-latvian/Grammar/Give-your-Opinion
Hi Standard Latvian learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will talk about how to express opinions in Standard Latvian. Giving your opinion is an important communication skill that we use in everyday life, whether in personal or professional settings. It is no different when it comes to learning a new language. So, let's dive in!
Introduction
When expressing opinions in Standard Latvian, it is important to understand the difference between informal and formal situations. In informal situations, such as talking to friends or family members, you can use informal language. However, in formal situations, such as job interviews or business meetings, you should use formal language.
For this lesson, we will focus on informal situations. Keep in mind that what we learn here can be easily adapted to formal situations as well.
Vocabulary
Let's start with some vocabulary that will help us express opinions:
| Standard Latvian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| es domāju | es do-maa-yu | I think |
| manuprāt | ma-nu-praa-t | in my opinion |
| es piekrītu | es pie-kree-tu | I agree |
| es nedomāju tā | es ne-do-maa-yu ta | I don't think so |
| man nav nekādu šaubu | man nav ne-kaa-du shau-bu | I have no doubt |
| es neesmu pārliecināts | es ne-es-mu paar-lie-tsi-naats | I am not convinced |
Grammar
When giving your opinion, it is important to use the correct grammar construction. In Standard Latvian, we commonly use the following constructions:
- Es domāju + [sentence] - I think + [sentence]
- Example: Es domāju, ka filma bija laba. (I think the movie was good.)
- Manuprāt, + [sentence] - In my opinion, + [sentence]
- Example: Manuprāt, labakais variants ir .... (In my opinion, the best option is ...)
- Es piekrītu + [sentence] - I agree + [sentence]
- Example: Es piekrītu, ka šī ir interesanta tēma. (I agree that this is an interesting topic.)
- Es nedomāju tā + [sentence] - I don't think so + [sentence]
- Example: Es nedomāju tā, ka tas ir pareizi. (I don't think that's correct.)
- Man nav nekādu šaubu + [sentence] - I have no doubt + [sentence]
- Example: Man nav nekādu šaubu, ka tas ir patiesība. (I have no doubt that this is the truth.)
- Es neesmu pārliecināts + [sentence] - I am not convinced + [sentence]
- Example: Es neesmu pārliecināts, ka tas ir risinājums. (I am not convinced that this is a solution.)
Let's see these grammar constructions in action in the following dialogue:
- Person 1: Es domāju, ka šodien būs lietains laiks. (I think it will rain today.)
- Person 2: Manuprāt, tas ir iespējams. (In my opinion, it's possible.)
- Person 1: Es piekrītu, ka mums jādara kaut kas, lai izvairītos no sliktiem laikapstākļiem. (I agree that we need to do something to avoid bad weather conditions.)
- Person 2: Es nedomāju tā, jo manuprāt, lietus varētu būt pozitīva lieta. (I don't think so, because in my opinion, rain could be a positive thing.)
- Person 1: Man nav nekādu šaubu, ka tu esi optimists. (I have no doubt that you are an optimist.)
- Person 2: Es neesmu pārliecināts, bet es centīšos sagatavoties lietus gadījumam. (I am not convinced, but I will try to prepare for rainy weather.)
Exercise
Express your opinion on the following topic and complete the sentence using the grammar construction we just learned:
Topic: Some people think that social media is harmful to young people. What do you think?
Sentence: Es domāju, ka ...............................................
Conclusion
To express your opinion in Standard Latvian, you can use grammar constructions such as "Es domāju" (I think) or "Manuprāt" (In my opinion). Remember that depending on the context, you may need to use formal or informal language.
To improve your Standard Latvian Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎