s8x0: Could you please explain how to use “point of you” in a sentence? I always hear it in debates.
So here’s the thing: “point of you” isn’t a common expression. There’s times you might see it in a sentence like this: I don’t see what’s the point of you going.
But in this case, the phrase to focus on is “what’s the point” (i.e. the reason, purpose). In that example, “you” could be swapped out for plenty of other subject markers.
- I don’t see what’s the point of her staying home.
- I don’t know the reason why she’s staying home.
- I don’t know the purpose of her staying home.
Small nuances in each sentence, but the interpretation will vary on the context. The bottom line is, for most English learners, you don’t need to learn how to use this sentence structure. You just need to be able to understand when a native speaker talks this way– and I don’t think it’ll be that often outside a movie or TV show.
Back to the matter at hand, s8xo is actually referring to “point of view”. Put simply, this is an opinion on a topic. That’s why it makes sense he would hear it often in a political debate. Debates are all about challenging the other person’s opinions, beliefs, and stances on issues.
Note: you’ll often use the preposition “from” with “point of view”:
- From my point of view,
- From her point of view,
- From his point of view,
- From your point of view,
- From their point of view,
What’s the big difference between using “from my point of view” and “in my opinion”? Nothing major really. In English, we have different words to emphasize certain senses. In this case, the emphasis is visual.
So when we respond to someone using visual-focused vocabulary, we might say:
- I see what you’re saying. = I understand.
- I don’t think we see eye to eye. = I disagree.
If you’re interested in learning more conversational English like this, connect with Jon to sign up for online private English coaching or face-to-face sessions in Boston. We’ll work on making you sound like a native speaker.
The Conversation Coach 