German Phrase
Was hältst du von diesem Projekt?
Meaning
The sentence asks someone for their opinion about a specific project. It literally translates to “What do you hold of this project?” but in English we say “What do you think of this project?”. It uses the verb ‘halten von’ to express a personal judgment.
When to use
Use this phrase in meetings, classroom discussions, or casual conversations when you want to invite feedback on a plan, proposal, or any collaborative work.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WashältstduvondiesemProjekt?
Was (interrogative pronoun)
Used to ask ‘what’ in a question; it triggers verb‑first word order in German.
halten von (verb phrase)
Means ‘to think of / to have an opinion about’. The verb is conjugated, and the object of the opinion follows the preposition ‘von’ in the dative case.
du (personal pronoun)
Second‑person singular informal; placed after the verb in a question.
diesem (demonstrative determiner)
Dative singular masculine/neuter form of ‘dieser’; matches the noun ‘Projekt’ after the preposition ‘von’.
Projekt (noun)
Neuter noun; in the dative singular it stays ‘Projekt’ (no ending change).
🗨In Conversation
Was hältst du von diesem Projekt?
What do you think of this project?
Ich finde es sehr innovativ, aber wir sollten das Budget genauer prüfen.
I think it’s very innovative, but we should examine the budget more closely.
✕Common Mistakes
Was du hältst von diesem Projekt?
The verb ‘halten’ needs the preposition ‘von’ after it, not before.
Was hältst du von dieses Projekt?
After ‘von’ the noun must be in the dative case, so ‘diesem Projekt’ is correct.
Was denkst du über diesem Projekt?
‘Denken über’ is not idiomatic for asking an opinion; use ‘halten von’ or ‘finden’.
↔Alternatives
Wie findest du dieses Projekt?
How do you find this project?
Was meinst du zu diesem Projekt?
What’s your opinion on this project?
Wie beurteilst du das Projekt?
How would you assess the project?
Cultural Tip
In German, ‘halten von’ is the standard way to ask for an opinion. It’s polite and neutral, suitable for both formal and informal settings. Avoid using ‘denken über’, which sounds less idiomatic. Also, remember the dative case after ‘von’, so ‘diesem Projekt’ (not ‘dieses Projekt’).