Discussion & Debate Phrases
Discussion & Debate Phrases
Structuring a spoken or written argument in German draws on set opening phrases that behave as single clause elements — get comfortable with the word order they force before the verb.
Grammar Comparison
Grammar Comparison
Opinion phrases like meiner Meinung nach still trigger verb-second
Meiner Meinung nach ist das falsch. (In my opinion, that's wrong.)
In my opinion, that's wrong.
meiner Meinung nach ('in my opinion') is a single unit occupying position one, so the verb (ist) immediately follows in position two, ahead of the subject das — the same verb-second rule you've applied to trotzdem and other front-loaded phrases throughout this course. English 'in my opinion' doesn't force any change in what follows, so it's easy to accidentally write meiner Meinung nach das ist falsch by keeping English word order out of habit.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| meiner Meinung nach | MY-ner MY-noong nahkh | in my opinion |
| ich bin der Ansicht, dass... | ikh bin dair AHN-zikht, dahs | I am of the view that... |
| ich stimme zu | ikh SHTIM-eh tsoo | I agree |
| ich stimme nicht zu | ikh SHTIM-eh nikht tsoo | I disagree |
| das sehe ich anders | dahs ZAY-eh ikh AHN-ders | I see it differently |
| im Gegensatz dazu | im GAY-gen-zahts dah-TSOO | in contrast to that |
| aus diesem Grund | ows DEE-zem groont | for this reason |
| es kommt darauf an | es komt dah-ROWF ahn | it depends |
| das Argument | dahs ar-goo-MENT | the argument |
| der Standpunkt | dair SHTAHNT-poonkt | the standpoint/position |
| überzeugen | ew-ber-TSOY-gen | to convince |
| widersprechen | VEE-der-shpreh-khen | to contradict |
| zustimmen | TSOO-shtim-en | to agree/consent |
| die Behauptung | dee beh-HOWP-toong | the claim/assertion |
| betonen | beh-TOH-nen | to emphasize |