False Friends

Vocabulary and Phrases for...

analysing a text
arguing in a debate
characterising a person
describing someone's intention/opinion
expressing a contrast/difference
expressing your own opinion

...analysing a text

At the beginning of the text (story etc.) the author (writer) says (claims, writes...) that..
In the middle / final section, we are given information about ...
Developing his/ her argument/s the author points out that ...
In conclusion, the author summarizes his/ her arguments (opinion) by saying that ...
The author develops (presents) his/ her idea by presenting evidence about ...
The author gives facts in support of the argument that ...
The author supports a view by referring to ...

...arguing in a debate

I think/believe/find that...
in my opinion
to my mind
I only want to say that...
put another way
in other words
I do not agree with you as regards...
I’d like to support / take up / emphasize the fact that...
to stress that
to resume what X has said
to revert to a point which has always seemed important to me
to add another point
I’m not quite certain/sure if
as far as I know
that is not the point
some details must be underscored
you forgot to say that...
it’s self-evident that...
on the one hand....on the other hand...
as far as this question is concerned
I don't think so, because...
In my opinion...
One should rather say...
I'd like to point out...
Then how do you explain the fact, that...
I agree/disagree on...
According to my information...
I've heard...
From my point of view...
I wouldn't say that, because...

...characterising a person

the principal person
a historical personage
this person represents
the author describes the physical appearance / intellectual qualities / mentality / social background
the person is in a conflict of interests
an essential component of his personality is...
by this description the author intends to convey...
a traditional image of s.o.
the person finds himself in an inner conflict / in a conflict of interests / in a dilemma
to be a stereotyped person
S/he is an interesting person.
His/her main characteristic traits are...
S/he appears as around character.
From my point of view s/he ...
S/he dreams about...
To me it looks like s/he is leaded by her feelings.
S/he looks similar to his/her mother/father.
Her plans for the future are...
S/he seems to be bull-headed .
About his/her outward appearance one could say...

...describing someone's intention/opinion

the author wants to influence the reader
to exert an influence on the reader
the author wants the reader to adopt his opinion
to convince the reader
to focus the reader's attention on
to produce the effect on the reader
to impress the reader
to sensitize the reader to current problems
the author approves - billigt
the author advocates - befürwortet
the author recommends - empfiehlt
the author proposes - legt nahe
the author suggests - schlägt vor
the author expresses solidarity with - solidarisiert sich mit
the author criticizes - kritisiert
the author reproaches s.o. with s.th.- wirft etwas vor
the author calls s.th. into question - stellt etwas in Frage
the author opposes s.th. - widersetzt sich
The author is convinced that…
He is sure that…
He is certain about…
It is his conviction that…
He expresses his conviction that…

...expressing a contrast/difference

But… - Aber
In contrast, …
by contrast, … - Dagegen
In contrast to / with…
Unlike…
Contrary to… - Im Gegensatz zu
Nevertheless, …
However, …
Still, …
Yet, …
In spite of…
Despite…

...expressing your own opinion

I think/ feel/ believe ...
I´m convinced that ...
In my opinion ...
It might be wrong, but ...
It seems to me that ...
My attitude towards ...
I´m of the opinion ...
I agree with you about ...
I suppose that ...
I agree entirely ...
The way I see it ...
I don´t think you can say ...
As far as I´m concerned ...
I can´t agree.
What I mean is ...
I´m afraid. I have to disagree.
I have the impression
I´d like to stress
I´d like to emphasize