I agree with the opinion.

Does this sound natural and the same as above?

I am for the opinion.

A bit strange and seems to suggest

"I am VOTING FOR that opinion."

I could imagine as a better alternative:

"I AM of the SAME opinion."

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Marius Hancu,

Yes, to me it sounds strange too. But most students here in Japan learn 'I'm for...' means 'I agree with...' So I'm wondering if it's really always exchangeable.

Let's see what native speakers here have to say (Or is English your first language?).

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Taka,

"I am for the opinion" does not sound native.

It's more likely that we would say, "I am for the idea / the proposal / the plan / the change."

As to "agree with the opinion," this does not sound native either, as a complete phrase.

We would say, "I agree with the opinion that Jack has stated," or "I agree with Jack."

Rachel
(a native speaker)

Yes, it should have been a complete phrase 'I agree with the opinion that...', as you've pointed out, Rachel. I just omitted it for the sake of simplicity.

But even if 'I am for the opinion' were a complete 'I am for the opinion that ...', still it wouldn't sound natural, would it?

Taka
(Japanese; a non-native English speaker)

Here's my opinion:

When we use the phrase to be for ___, we normally mention a cause, an issue that's being debated or discussed. It could be a noun phrase or gerund noun phrase:

I'm for early primaries in a presidential campaign year.

I'm for holding early primaries in a presidential campaign year.

We're for equal rights between men and women.

They're not for capital punishment.

Aren't you for banning capital punishment?

We wouldn't normally say "I'm for ___" and add a word like opinion. It doesn't really make sense.

Richard

Dear Rachel & Richard,

what about saying:

"I'm for the opinion that says............"

Richard,

Rachel says:

quote:

It's more likely that we would say, "I am for the idea

and you say:

quote:

We wouldn't normally say "I'm for ___" and add a word like opinion. It doesn't really make sense.

Then, what exactly is the difference between an opinion and an idea?

"Idea" has the connotation of "original thought," at least in part.

"Opinion" is what you think about something, including about an "idea."

An idea can be an invention, a plan of action, a conclusion, or something else.

An opinion is what one person thinks about something.

You might have an idea that you should travel in space. Your opinion is that it would be a wonderful experience. Your mother's opinion might be that it would be dangerous.

Rachel

So it doesn't matter whether it's 'I am for the opinion' or a complete 'I am for the opinion that ...'. Right, Rachel?

Right.

If you say "I am for the opinion..." you should quality it with whose opinion it is.

Do you know the phrase, "I am OF the opinion"?

This is a little different. It merely means "I believe." It's about your own opinion, not someone else's.

Rachel

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rachel, Moderator,

quote:

If you say "I am for the opinion..." you should quality it with whose opinion it is.

I don't really know what you mean by "qualify it with", but are you saying that if it is "I'm for your opinion that...", it is acceptable and the same as "I agree with your opinion that..."?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rachel, Moderator,

If you say, "I'm for your opinion...." or "I'm for your opinion that...." it's better than "I"m for the opinion."

Still, it seems inaccurate. You are for the idea, and you appreciate the opinion.

It's not actually wrong, but it is fuzzy. Why would you want to use "I'm for the opinion" when what you mean is "I'm for the idea," or "I agree with you."

Rachel

OK. I understand. Thanks, Rachel.

By the way, can I ask a question about your 'qualify if with'? I still don't understand the grammatical construction of it. Or is it a typo and did you actually want to say something like 'qualify it with'?

Oh, no wonder! I didn't see that typo until just this moment when you pointed it out. Thanks. I'm going to fix that.

Rachel