Spanish Opinion Phrases and Everyday Evaluative Adjectives

In this lesson, you will make your opinions more precise by choosing adjectives that evaluate usefulness, necessity, fairness, suitability, convenience, and clarity.

Útil for usefulness

— This information is useful.
— The map is very useful for travelers.
— For me, this app is useful because it shows the schedules.

Necesario for necessity

— It is necessary to carry the document.
— For this job, it is necessary to speak with customers.

This lesson uses + infinitive or a noun phrase. Evaluative subordinate clauses with later mood choices are reserved for later study.

Justo for fairness

— The price seems fair to me.
— For me, dividing the cost among everyone is fair.
— I think that this rule is not fair.

Adecuado for suitability

— This schedule is suitable for me.
— The room is suitable for two people.
— I think this option is suitable for a family.

Conveniente for practical advantage

— The direct train is convenient.
— For me, paying online is more convenient.

Claro for clarity

— The explanation is clear.
— The instructions are not clear.

Precise evaluation is better than repeating bueno

General:

— The option is good.

More precise:

— The option is useful.
— The option is suitable.
— The option is convenient.

Each adjective answers a different evaluative question.

Useful versus necessary

Compare:

— The dictionary is useful.
— The passport is necessary for this trip.

Something useful helps; something necessary is required in the stated context.

Fair versus convenient

Compare:

— Dividing the bill among four is fair.
— Paying by card is convenient.

The first evaluates fairness. The second evaluates practical ease or advantage.

Suitable versus good

A hotel can be good in general but unsuitable for one traveler.

— The hotel is good, but it is not suitable for a person who needs parking.

Opinion phrases with evaluative adjectives

— I think that this information is useful.
— I think that the price is fair.
— For me, the schedule is not suitable.

Short evaluation task

Situation: Option A costs less but takes two hours. Option B costs more but takes thirty minutes.

Possible evaluation:

— For a person with little time, option B is more convenient.

Possible different evaluation:

— For a person with little money, option A is more suitable.

A practical evaluation method

Ask what type of judgment you want to make.
Use útil for usefulness.
Use necesario for necessity.
Use justo for fairness.
Use adecuado for suitability.
Use conveniente for practical convenience.
Use claro for clarity.
Choose the most precise adjective instead of repeating bueno or malo.

From Evaluation Words to Opinion Texts

You can now state what kind of evaluation you are making. The next lesson teaches you how to identify a writer's main opinion, supporting reasons, and examples in a short Spanish opinion text.

Spanish phrases

Esta información es útil.

This information is useful.

El mapa es muy útil para los viajeros.

The map is very useful for travelers.

Para mí, esta aplicación es útil porque muestra los horarios.

For me, this app is useful because it shows the schedules.

Es necesario llevar el documento.

It is necessary to carry the document.

Para este trabajo, es necesario hablar con los clientes.

For this job, it is necessary to speak with customers.

El precio me parece justo.

The price seems fair to me.

Para mí, dividir el coste entre todos es justo.

For me, dividing the cost among everyone is fair.

Pienso que esta regla no es justa.

I think this rule is not fair.

Este horario es adecuado para mí.

This schedule is suitable for me.

La habitación es adecuada para dos personas.

The room is suitable for two people.

Creo que esta opción es adecuada para una familia.

I think this option is suitable for a family.

El tren directo es conveniente.

The direct train is convenient.

Para mí, pagar por internet es más conveniente.

For me, paying online is more convenient.

La explicación es clara.

The explanation is clear.

Las instrucciones no son claras.

The instructions are not clear.

El hotel es bueno, pero no es adecuado para una persona que necesita aparcamiento.

The hotel is good, but it is not suitable for someone who needs parking.

Creo que esta información es útil.

I think this information is useful.

Pienso que el precio es justo.

I think the price is fair.