you're listening to Business English Pod the Business English podcast for professionals on the move in this business English Pod episode will be looking at ways to give and ask for opinion. We'll be looking both more formal or careful language as well as more informal or direct language. Giving and asking for opinions is a very important part of meetings and discussions of all types.

first let's listen to more formal situation we'll be listening to part of a meeting at Digi Soft a multinational software company. Sheila, a vice president, is talking to wall George and Bruce, 3 software engineers, about the deadline for the new software release.

Release here means "Launch" that is bring the product onto the market so let's move on to the topic of release date.Gentleman when do you think we'll be able to launch this product?

Walt? Well, I tend to feel that we should probably be able to start testing the product EN April that means that if all goes well we can happen this release the me all June I say thank you walt what's your reaction to that group May or June well from my point of view that sounds about right excuse me may I come in here I wonder if I could say something go ahead george what would you like to add well it seems to me that may is much much too early actually we are still having some pretty major problems with bugs in the update engine and I just don't see how we will be able to fix those books okay now let's listen to george Bruce on wall walk into the break room right after the meeting Sheila their boss is not here this is a more informal situation hey guys did you see the Chelsea Liverpool game last night what did you think all quite I gave her Chelsea look pretty good cue always have to rub it in turns you bruise you know unlivable fan have that you jewish actually that was one of the greatest games ever see but the way you guys keep telling the boss we can finish the product by May numbers are going to have time to watch in world football games we're all going to be working overtime every night burning the midnight oil so now you've heard both formal and informal conversations first let's look at the form conversation how to Sheila ass for her employees opinions Sheila is in charge she is the boss and the chairperson of the meeting one way for her to ask for an employee's opinion is simply to say his name with the rising intonation work home gentleman when do you think we will be able to launch this product what she'll also use some other ways to ask firm place opinions all these ways are relatively formal the signal that this is a formal meeting she says I say thank you walt what's your reaction to that Bruce and go ahead george what would you like to add together with the speakers try some other form of races for asking for an opinion how do you feel about that Cecilia could you please share your thoughts on that fair what's your view on this Richard Tony what's your feelings on the 8th now let's look at the language wall Bruce and George use to express their opinions informal situation lot says well I tend to feel that we should be able to start testing the product EN April this language I tend to feel that shows careful formal tone what uses the stone because he is talking to his boss and perhaps because he's not sure whether or not the others will agree with them let's keep listening I say thank you walt what's your reaction to that group May or June well from my point of view that sounds about right Bruce likewise uses more formal careful language well from my point of view this makes him some more polite since he's talking to his boss in addition begins in time to think giving yourself time to think is another reason to use these phrases haha George how did he offer his opinion excuse me may I come in here I wonder if I could say something go ahead george what would you like to add well it seems to me that may is much much too early think about the ways to George users to express his opinion I wonder if I could say something and well it seems to me that these ways expression are quite careful George has a good reason to be careful doesn t he disagrees with his colleagues now let's practice some further formal were careful phrases for expressing your opinion I have the impression that he didn't really want to come don't you think that that's a little early I tend to feel it's a bit too early to start next let's turn a more informal discussion between will Bruce and George remember there in the breakroom right after the meeting Bruce ass georgian Walt hey guys did you see the Chelsea luv all-gay last night what the debate will quiet gave her Chelsea look for a ticket this is an informal relaxed discussion among colleagues you can tell it's informal because Bruce uses the informal word guys to address george wall also he says what do you think this is an informal way to ask for an opinion what says cue always have to read the tendency to bruise you know am a Liverpool fan to rub something in is an Indian it means to remind someone on purpose something that is uncomfortable or painful here it's done as a joke it sounds like Walt is a Liverpool fan and he's unhappy because Chelsea won the game let's keep listening how bad you jewish actually that was one of the greatest games ever see how about you is another direct way to ask for an opinion next notice how George start a sentence with actually actually is a direct or informal way to state an opinion it shows us the George has something new were surprising decide with George practice more direct ways to state an opinion the point ease we doing very well in this market the way I see it we're heading for trouble obviously his only one choice basically I think we have two options finally let's listen to the and the dialogue again have that you jewish actually that was one of the greatest games ever see but the way you guys keep telling the boss we can finish the product by May numbers are going to have time to watch him win football games George means that Bruce on wall keep telling the boss that they can meet the may deadline everyone is going to have to work very hard in fact they're going to have to work so hard that they won't have any time to watch football games