About Lesson
Expressions for Agreeing and Disagreeing
This page is about words and phrases that we use when we agree or disagree with someone in English.
Stating an opinion
- In my opinion…
- The way I see it…
- If you want my honest opinion….
- According to Lisa…
- As far as I’m concerned…
- If you ask me…
Asking for an opinion
- What’s your idea?
- What are your thoughts on all of this?
- How do you feel about that?
- Do you have anything to say about this?
- What do you think?
- Do you agree?
- Wouldn’t you say?
Expressing agreement
- I agree with you 100 percent.
- I couldn’t agree with you more.
- That’s so true.
- That’s for sure.
- (slang) Tell me about it!
- You’re right.
- Absolutely.
- That’s exactly how I feel.
- Exactly.
- I’m afraid I agree with James.
- I have to side with Dad on this one.
- No doubt about it.
- (agree with the negative statement) Me neither.
- (weak) I suppose so./I guess so.
- You have a point there.
- I was just going to say that.
Expressing disagreement
- I don’t think so.
- (strong) No way.
- I’m afraid I disagree.
- (strong) I disagree.
- I beg to differ.
- (strong) I’d say the exact opposite.
- Not necessarily.
- That’s not always true.
- That’s not always the case.
- No, I’m not so sure about that.
Interruptions
- Can I add something here?
- Is it okay if I jump in for a second?
- If I might add something…
- Can I throw my two cents in?
- Sorry to interrupt, but…
- (after accidentally interrupting someone) Sorry, go ahead. OR Sorry, you were saying…
- (after being interrupted) You didn’t let me finish.
Settling an argument
- Let’s just move on, shall we?
- Let’s drop it.
- I think we’re going to have to agree to disagree.
- (sarcastic) Whatever you say./If you say so.
Activity 1
· Listen to a dialogue carefully and note how they are agreeing and disagreeing.
1. Ask the students to listen to a dialogue with a volunteer student or another teacher and present it in front of the class.
2. The teacher may record this dialogue on a tape recorder and play it in front of the class. The teacher will also provide a purpose for listening to the dialogue.
3. Instruct the students to listen to the dialogue and note how they agree and disagree with each other.
4. Also explain that ‘note’ does not mean that they have to write. They can just focus on the sentences which express agreement and disagreement
Dialogue:
Two friends Kareem (K) and Bilal (B) are complaining about one of their courses at school
K: Our course is too theoretical. It should be much more practical. Don’t you think so?
B: I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m just doing the course to pass the exam. I don’t think that it’s going to help me after I Leave School.
K: Exactly. And I can’t understand most of the theory. I just learn my notes off by heart.
B: So do me. We should complain to the head teacher.
K: I think that you’re right. I suggest that we see him as soon as possible.
B: I agree. Don’t you think that we should talk to the other students first and ask them what they think about the course?
K: Good idea. Let’s ask them tomorrow. OK?
B: OK
Activity 2
· Role-play this dialogue in pairs:
1. Ask the students to prepare this dialogue with appropriate intonation (rise and fall of sound) and facial expressions. Model saying a few phrases in a flat tone (without expression and then saying it with expression and facial expression.
2. Ask the students to role-play the dialogue with appropriate expressions.
3. In the beginning, the students may not be able to learn the whole dialogue by heart. In this case, the teacher should ask the students to have flashcards on which their respective dialogues are written.
4. The students will rehearse and present the dialogue in front of the class. However, they should try to perform the dialogue orally without reading from anywhere.
5. Use the three statements given in the warm-up activity to practice the target phrases and statements for agreement and disagreement.
Activity 3
Prepare a dialogue on the following situation:
Situation: your friend wants to go to Murray hills in winter. He gives different reasons for going there. You agree on some points and disagree on some of them.
1. Ask the students to sit in groups in the given situation.
2. Write on the board the following ways of agreeing in English.
(These can be written on chart papers and displayed in the classroom for reference)
Ways of Expressing Agreement
Yes
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I agree
I agree with you
I quite agree
I agree
I couldn’t disagree with you more
You’re right
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Ways of Expressing Disagreement
No
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(I’m sorry)
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I don’t agree
I don’t agree with you (I’m afraid)
I can’t agree with you
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(I think)
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You’re wrong
You’re quite wrong (I’m afraid)
You’re wrong
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Exercise Files