Expressing Opinions in Basque

Overview

Being able to express your opinions is a key A2 skill that moves you beyond factual statements into personal expression. Basque has several structures for sharing what you think, believe, and feel about things, ranging from simple phrases to more complex subordinate constructions.

The most common opinion expressions are: nire ustez (in my opinion), uste dut (I think), iruditzen zait (it seems to me), ados nago (I agree), and ez nago ados (I disagree). These phrases become the building blocks for discussion and conversation.

Many opinion structures use subordinate clauses with the suffix -la (that), which you will encounter increasingly at this level: Uste dut ondo dagoela (I think that it is fine).

How It Works

Opinion phrases:

Basque	English	Structure
Nire ustez	In my opinion	Fixed phrase + statement
Uste dut	I think	+ -la clause
Iruditzen zait	It seems to me	Dative + -la clause
Ados nago	I agree	With -rekin (with)
Ez nago ados	I disagree	With -rekin (with)
Nire iritziz	In my view	Fixed phrase

Using -la (that) for opinion clauses:

Example	Translation
Uste dut arrazoi duzula.	I think (that) you are right.
Iruditzen zait zaila dela.	It seems to me (that) it is difficult.
Uste dut ondo dagoela.	I think (that) it is fine.

Pattern: Opinion verb + main clause verb + -la suffix

Agreement and disagreement:

Basque	English
Ados nago zurekin.	I agree with you.
Ez nago ados zurekin.	I disagree with you.
Arrazoi duzu.	You are right.
Ez duzu arrazoi.	You are wrong.
Hala uste dut nik ere.	I think so too.

Examples in Context

Basque	English	Note
Nire ustez, ondo dago.	In my opinion, it is fine.	Simple opinion
Uste dut arrazoi duzula.	I think you are right.	With -la clause
Iruditzen zait zaila dela.	It seems to me that it is difficult.	Dative construction
Ez nago ados zurekin.	I disagree with you.	Disagreement
Ados nago erabat.	I completely agree.	Strong agreement
Nire iritziz, hobe da.	In my view, it is better.	Alternative phrasing
Ez dut uste horrela denik.	I don't think it is like that.	Negative opinion
Agian arrazoi duzu.	Maybe you are right.	Hedged opinion
Niretzat, garrantzitsua da.	For me, it is important.	Personal perspective
Hala ere, ez nago ziur.	Still, I am not sure.	Uncertainty

Common Mistakes

Forgetting -la in subordinate opinion clauses

• Wrong: Uste dut ondo dago.
• Right: Uste dut ondo dagoela.
• Why: After uste dut (I think), the subordinate clause needs the -la suffix on the verb: dago → dagoela.

Using uste dut with a noun instead of a clause

• Wrong: Uste dut hori. (for "I think that")
• Right: Hori uste dut. (I think that) or Uste dut hori egia dela. (I think that is true.)
• Why: Uste dut typically introduces a clause with -la. For simpler expressions, use nire ustez + statement.

Confusing ados nago with ados naiz

• Wrong: Ados naiz.
• Right: Ados nago.
• Why: "Being in agreement" is a state, so it uses egon (nago), not izan (naiz).

Usage Notes

In Basque conversation, softening opinions is common and considered polite. Using agian (maybe), beharbada (perhaps), or nire ustez (in my opinion) before a strong statement shows social awareness. Direct disagreement is typically softened with phrases like bai, baina... (yes, but...) or hala ere (nevertheless). This pragmatic awareness becomes increasingly important as you advance.

Practice Tips

1. Practice expressing opinions about everyday topics: food, weather, films. Use the pattern: Nire ustez, [topic] + [adjective] + da. Then try: Uste dut [topic] + [adjective] + dela.
2. Practice agreeing and disagreeing with statements: someone says a fact, you respond with Ados nago or Ez nago ados, nire ustez...

Related Concepts

• Verb 'To Be' (izan) - Present