General English Level 3 V 3
UNIT 02 Entertainment TOPIC 04 What was it about?
LANGUAGE FOCUS 02 Asking for and giving opinions
Ask other people what they think - and tell them what you think too!

1. Asking for opinions

Pedro asks Jim about the movie:
Pedro:
What was it like?
Pedro:
What did you think of the romantic part?
Pedro: …would you recommend it?

When we ask for opinions about a movie or show we can use How was + noun? , What was + noun + like? or What did you think of + noun? We usually ask the question in the past tense, because the person has already seen the movie or show. We use the present tense to ask their opinion if they are still watching it.

How was
is 		the movie?
the show?
What did you think of
do you think of
What was
is 		it like?

We also ask Would you recommend it?

Question
Answer
Would you recommend it? Yes, I would.
No, wouldn't.

We also ask these questions about books, restaurants, exhibitions and other events.


Examples

1 Read the examples.
2 Practise saying the examples.
How was the concert last night?
How was the art exhibition?
What was the restaurant like?
What was the program like?
What did you think of the story?
Would you recommend the book?

2. Giving opinions

Jim says:
Jim:
I didn't really like the romantic part.
Jim:
I don't like love stories.

We use these words to say how much we liked or didn't like something (a movie, a show).

Jim says:
Jim:
I saw Titanic. It was great!
Jim:
It 's really spectacular!
Jim: The special effects are amazing.

We use adjectives like great, amazing, spectacular, fantastic to talk about a movie, show or event.

We also use I thought…+ past tense verb….. e.g. I thought it was really fantastic!

I thought the movie
the show
the game 		was (really) great!
fantastic!
wonderful!
amazing!
awful!
terrible!
OK.

It is really spectacular!
The special effects are really amazing!

Examples:

1 Read the examples.
2 Practise saying the examples.
I thought the movie was fantastic!
The special effects are amazing!
The movie was really fantastic!
The movie was terrible!
I thought the show was awful!
It was okay.


When we talk about what happened in a movie we can use both the past and present tense.
For example, we can say 'Then he steals a car and drives off' or 'Then he stole a car and drove off'.

3. Asking for and giving reasons

Pedro asks:
Pedro:
What did you think of the romantic part?
Jim answers:
Jim: …I didn't really like the romance.
Pedro asks:
Pedro: Why not?
Jim answers:
Jim: I don't like love stories.

We often ask why or why not when someone says they like or don't like something.
We can answer with because .

A:
I liked the comedy.
B:
Why?
A: Because I like funny movies.
A: I didn't really like the romance.
B: Why not?
A: Because I don't like love stories.

Now go to 03 LISTENING What was it like? - task.