SPEAKING

AGREEING AND DISAGREEING

Expressions for Agreeing and Disagreeing

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 opinon
  • 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 absolutely 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 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 totally 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.



Topics for Debate

Here are 20 topics to discuss with a friend or group. Practise agreeing and disagreeing even if you have to argue against something you actually believe in. One way to have fun with this is to make up a bunch of cards that say agree or disagree. Each person has to pick up a card and then the topic is read out. It is more fun to have a debate this way because you don't have to play your true self. Try to continue each discussion for at least five minutes. Use the expressions that you learned, including agreeing, disagreeing, asking for opinions, interrupting, etc.
  • Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
  • Swimming in the ocean is better than swimming in a public pool.
  • Alcohol should be illegal.
  • Children should provide room and board for their aging parents.
  • Studying grammar is more important than practising conversation skills.
  • Television is the leading cause of violence in today's society.
  • Dogs make better companions than cats.
  • Smoking should be permitted in public places.
  • Females are better students than males.
  • A parent shouldn't pierce a baby's ears.
  • Women should be allowed to go topless in public.
  • Lawyers should make a higher salary than nurses.
  • Everyone should plan their own funeral.
  • Reading English is more difficult than writing English.
  • Summer is the best season of the year.
  • Children under 13 should not be allowed to babysit.
  • High school students should wear uniforms.
  • 21 should be the legal driving age around the world.
  • Rock and Roll is the best kind of music.
  • The government should pay for post secondary education.

Agreeing/Disagreeing

There is no clearly defined difference between formal and informal ways of agreeing or disagreeing but it’s good to be careful about using expressions that sound too informal in certain situations.Click on the audio jukebox to hear the expressions according to tracks.
 
Daily Expressions Audio Jukebox

  • Track 1- Simple agreement
    1. I agree.
    2. I really agree with you.
    3. I think you are right.
    4. I couldn’t agree with you more.
    5. You said it.
    6. Can’t say I don’t agree.
    7. I’m with you on this.
    8. I partly agree
    9. I agree on this but not that.
    10. It’s partly true.
  • Track 2 - Accepting/Declining/Expressing acceptance
      • I accept your point.
      • Please accept this on our behalf.
      • Sorry, I can’t accept this.
      • I’m 100% with you on this!
      • Great idea.
      • I’ll take it.
      • Sorry, I can’t take it.
      • Accept my apology.
  • Track 3 - Simple disagreement or refusal
      • I disagree with you.
      • Everyone has their own opinion, right?
      • I think you’re wrong on this.
      • I’m sorry but I have to refuse your request.
      • You’re wrong.
      •   No way!
      • You’ve got to be kidding!
      • How can you even say that?
      • Where is your logic?
  • Track 4 - Strong disagreement
      • I completely disagree with you.
      • You are very wrong to say that.
      • I totally disagree with you.
      • I can’t find myself to agree with you.
      • You’re dead wrong.
      • You’re way wrong.

DISAGREEING ACTIVITY



MAKING REQUESTS




LIKES AND DISLIKES



http://www.english-at-home.com/speaking/talking-about-likes-and-dislikes-in-english/
http://www.saberingles.com.ar/curso/lesson06/03b.html
http://www.prejudicenoway.com.au/multiversions/2211/FileName/Y1_handout_5.pdf
http://www.hsdspd.state.ut.us/docs/person_centered_forms/likes_and_dislikes.pdf

I don't like Mondays -Song with lyrics


Baby, I like it - Song with lyrics


UNIT 3


Record a conversation between you and your partner talking about your opinion on one of the following subjects using agreeing and disagreeing expressions:

  • breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
  • swimming in the ocean is better than swimming in a public pool.
  • Dogs make better companions than cats.
  • Females are better students than males.
 UNIT 1

Create a VOKI talking about your likes and dislikes. Go to www.voki.com, register yourself and create a voki including the written text of your audio. Save it, give it the name "My likes and dislikes" and publish it in your blog.