14.1. Qu’est-ce que tu en penses ?

Asking Someone’s Opinion About What’s Essential or Important

14.1.1. The Main Idea

To ask someone’s opinion about what is important or essential, use expressions such as à ton avis, qu’est-ce que tu penses, and qu’est-ce qui est important.

À ton avis ?	In your opinion?
À votre avis ?	In your opinion? formal or plural
Qu’est-ce que tu en penses ?	What do you think about it?
Qu’est-ce qui est important ?	What is important?
Qu’est-ce qui est essentiel ?	What is essential?

14.1.2. Asking for Someone’s Opinion

À ton avis, c’est important ?	In your opinion, is it important?
À votre avis, c’est essentiel ?	In your opinion, is it essential? formal or plural
Tu penses que c’est important ?	Do you think it is important?
Vous pensez que c’est nécessaire ?	Do you think it is necessary? formal or plural
Qu’est-ce que tu en penses ?	What do you think about it?

14.1.3. Asking What Is Important

Qu’est-ce qui est important ?	What is important?
Qu’est-ce qui est essentiel ?	What is essential?
Qu’est-ce qui est nécessaire ?	What is necessary?
Qu’est-ce qui est le plus important ?	What is the most important?
Qu’est-ce qui est le moins important ?	What is the least important?

Use qu’est-ce qui when what is the subject of the sentence.

14.1.4. Giving an Opinion

À mon avis, c’est important.	In my opinion, it is important.
Je pense que c’est essentiel.	I think it is essential.
Je crois que c’est nécessaire.	I believe / think it is necessary.
Pour moi, c’est très important.	For me, it is very important.
Selon moi, ce n’est pas essentiel.	In my view, it is not essential.

14.1.5. Saying What Is Essential

Il est essentiel de dormir.	It is essential to sleep.
Il est important d’étudier.	It is important to study.
Il est nécessaire de comprendre.	It is necessary to understand.
Il faut écouter.	You have to listen.
Il faut poser des questions.	You have to ask questions.

This connects with impersonal il:

il est important de + infinitive	it is important to ___
il est essentiel de + infinitive	it is essential to ___
il faut + infinitive	one must / you have to ___

14.1.6. Useful Opinion Words

important	important, masculine
importante	important, feminine
essentiel	essential, masculine
essentielle	essential, feminine
nécessaire	necessary
utile	useful
pratique	practical / convenient
sérieux	serious, masculine
sérieuse	serious, feminine
difficile	difficult
facile	easy

14.1.7. Ranking Importance

le plus important	the most important, masculine
la plus importante	the most important, feminine
les plus importants	the most important, masculine or mixed plural
les plus importantes	the most important, feminine plural
le moins important	the least important, masculine
la moins importante	the least important, feminine
plus important que	more important than
aussi important que	as important as
moins important que	less important than

14.1.8. Examples in Context

À ton avis, qu’est-ce qui est le plus important ?	In your opinion, what is the most important?
Pour moi, la famille est très importante.	For me, family is very important.
Je pense que la santé est essentielle.	I think health is essential.
Selon moi, l’argent est utile, mais ce n’est pas le plus important.	In my view, money is useful, but it is not the most important.
Il est important de travailler, mais il est aussi important de se reposer.	It is important to work, but it is also important to rest.

14.1.9. Core Patterns

À ton avis ?	In your opinion?
À mon avis, ___ .	In my opinion, ___.
Tu penses que ___ ?	Do you think that ___?
Je pense que ___ .	I think that ___.
Qu’est-ce qui est important ?	What is important?
Il est important de + infinitive	It is important to ___.
Il faut + infinitive	You have to ___.

14.1.10. Practice

In your opinion? informal
In my opinion, it is important.
Do you think it is necessary? formal
What is essential?
What is the most important?
I think health is essential.
It is important to study.
You have to ask questions.

14.1.11. Answers

In your opinion? informal	À ton avis ?
In my opinion, it is important.	À mon avis, c’est important.
Do you think it is necessary? formal	Vous pensez que c’est nécessaire ?
What is essential?	Qu’est-ce qui est essentiel ?
What is the most important?	Qu’est-ce qui est le plus important ?
I think health is essential.	Je pense que la santé est essentielle.
It is important to study.	Il est important d’étudier.
You have to ask questions.	Il faut poser des questions.

14.1.12. Short Dialogue

A : À ton avis, qu’est-ce qui est le plus important ?	A: In your opinion, what is the most important?
B : Pour moi, la santé est essentielle. Et toi ?	B: For me, health is essential. And you?
A : Je pense que la famille est très importante.	A: I think family is very important.
B : Oui, je suis d’accord. Il est aussi important de se reposer.	B: Yes, I agree. It is also important to rest.

14.1.13. Checkpoint

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to ask for someone’s opinion with à ton avis and qu’est-ce que tu en penses, ask what is important with qu’est-ce qui est important, give opinions with je pense que, je crois que, and selon moi, and use impersonal expressions such as il est important de and il faut.