1. Three ways to ask for an opinion
English offers three useful patterns. What do you think about…? asks for an opinion on a topic. What’s your opinion on…? does the same in a slightly more formal way. Do you agree (with…)? checks whether someone agrees with something.
These patterns invite someone to state a position: assess an idea, explain a view or confirm agreement. The answer can include both an assessment and supporting facts.
What do you think about …? / What’s your opinion on …? / Do you agree (with …)?
What do you think about the concert on Saturday?
What do you think about the concert on Saturday?
An open question: the other person gives their assessment of the concert.
What's your opinion on the new library hours?
What's your opinion on the new library hours?
The same request for a view, with the noun opinion; it sounds slightly more formal.
Do you agree with Olga?
Do you agree with Olga?
A yes/no question about agreement: yes or no can be sufficient.
2. What do you think (about / of) …?
This is a very common pattern. After what, put auxiliary do, then subject you and verb think: What do you think? Add the topic after about or of: What do you think about the plan? / What do you think of the plan?
Leave out the topic when everyone knows what you mean: What do you think? People often ask this immediately after giving their own view or showing someone something.
Keep do before you in the question: What do you think, rather than What you think.
What + do + you + think + (about / of + topic)?
What do you think about my presentation?
What do you think about my presentation?
Do comes between what and you; the topic follows about.
What do you think of the new bakery?
What do you think of the new bakery?
Of is just as natural as about here.
I've shown you the photos. What do you think?
I've shown you the photos. What do you think?
The topic is omitted because both people know what the question refers to.
3. What’s your opinion on …?
Opinion means a person’s view. This question consists of what’s (what is), possessive your, noun opinion and a preposition introducing the topic: on, of or about. There is no verb think, so auxiliary do is not needed.
Similar requests include What’s your view on…? and Do you have an opinion about…? These can sound slightly more formal than What do you think…? and suit workplace discussions or conversations with a manager.
Notice where is goes: before your opinion in the direct question, as in What’s your opinion…, rather than What your opinion is.
What’s + your + opinion + (on / of / about) + topic?
What's your opinion on the new dress code?
What's your opinion on the new dress code?
Opinion + on: a neutral, slightly formal request for a view.
What's your view on remote work?
What's your view on remote work?
View is a synonym of opinion, often used in workplace discussions.
Do you have an opinion about the new timetable?
Do you have an opinion about the new timetable?
A yes/no question about whether someone has an opinion; a yes usually leads to an explanation.
4. Do you agree …? and Do you think …?
Do you agree? checks agreement with what has just been said. Add a person with with (Do you agree with Olga?) or a statement with that (Do you agree that the exam was hard?).
Agree is a verb in its own right, so form this question with do. Are you agree…? is not the correct pattern.
Do you think (that)…? checks whether someone holds a particular view. The following clause uses statement order, with the subject before the verb: Do you think the bus is full?
Do you agree (with + person / that + clause)? / Do you think (that) + clause?
- clause —
- A construction with a verb, often with its own subject: when I arrived. A non-finite clause may leave the subject unspoken: to get home.
Do you agree with the new lunch rules?
Do you agree with the new lunch rules?
Agree + with introduces what the person agrees with.
Do you agree that the show was too loud?
Do you agree that the show was too loud?
Agree + that is followed by a clause with the subject before the verb.
Do you think we need a bigger table?
Do you think we need a bigger table?
After Do you think, subject we precedes verb need.
5. Asking for an opinion rather than a method
A Ukrainian expression for asking someone’s opinion can be misleading if translated word for word as How do you think…? English how asks about a way or method. To request an assessment, use What do you think…? or a yes/no question with Do you think…?
Distinguish Do you think about the plan? from What do you think about the plan? The first asks whether someone considers the plan; a yes/no answer need not assess it. The second requests an assessment: “It’s good”, “It’s too long” or “I like it”.
Both questions are grammatical. Choose according to your purpose: asking for an assessment, or asking whether someone thinks about a topic at all.
What do you think about my new haircut?
What do you think about my new haircut?
What requests an assessment of the haircut.
Do you think about moving to another city?
Do you think about moving to another city?
This asks whether the person considers moving, rather than asking them to assess the move.
How do you think she will finish so fast?
How do you think she will finish so fast?
How asks what method the person thinks she will use to finish so quickly. This differs from requesting an assessment.
6. Open or yes/no questions, and inviting an answer
An open question (What do you think…?, What’s your opinion…?) invites someone to explain their view in their own words. A yes/no question (Do you agree…?, Do you think…?) checks a position quickly. Choose an open question for an explanation or a yes/no question to check agreement; either can lead to discussion.
To invite a particular person, use their name: Dan, what do you think about the plan? For a more formal tone, try Could I ask for your opinion on…? Ordinary What do you think…? also suits many workplace conversations.
After giving your own view, invite someone else in: I like the red one. What about you? or What do you think? A neutral question leaves more room for an answer: Do you think the rule is fair? is less leading than Don’t you think the rule is unfair?
Maya, what do you think about the new logo?
Maya, what do you think about the new logo?
The initial name directs the question to Maya.
Could I ask for your opinion on the budget?
Could I ask for your opinion on the budget?
A polite, formal option for addressing a manager.
I prefer the longer route. What about you?
I prefer the longer route. What about you?
After expressing your preference, invite the other person to give theirs.
Combining your opinion with a question
Briefly give your own view, then invite someone to speak: I think the route is too long. What do you think?
After someone answers, ask for their reason with Why do you think so?
What do you think about the new route? I think it's too long.
What do you think about the new route? I think it's too long.
The first sentence requests the other person’s opinion; the second expresses the speaker’s view.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:How do you think about my idea?
Correct:What do you think about my idea?
How asks about a way or method. To request an assessment of this idea, use what rather than translating the Ukrainian expression literally.
Incorrect:Are you agree with Olga?
Correct:Do you agree with Olga?
Agree is a verb, so this question uses do without be.
Incorrect:What you think about the concert?
Correct:What do you think about the concert?
This direct question with what needs auxiliary do before the subject.
Incorrect:What your opinion is on the schedule?
Correct:What's your opinion on the schedule?
In the direct question, is precedes your opinion rather than following it.
Incorrect:What's your opinion in the new menu?
Correct:What's your opinion on the new menu?
Use on, of or about to introduce a topic after opinion, rather than in.
Incorrect:Do you think is the shop open?
Correct:Do you think the shop is open?
After Do you think, use statement order: subject the shop precedes verb is.