English conversation tips | Agreeing and disagreeing | Formal & informal English

9

Are you using the right expression to agree or disagree with someone?

Do you know which expressions are formal,

and which expressions are informal?

By the end of this lesson, you will have learnt all the right expressions to use in the right context.

Hello and welcome everyone, this is Minoo at Anglo-Link.

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So, now let's get started by looking at expressions for agreeing.

Here are some informal expressions for agreeing.

Iv'e got three for you.

I'm with you on that one.

Yeah, I think so too.

You can say: Your'e spot on.

But, we usually drop the 'your'e'

and go enthusiastically into 'spot on'.

So, these are three informal expressions for agreeing.

Let's look at some neutral expressions for agreeing.

You can use these in formal and informal situations.

So, the first one is:

Nice and simple.

I'd certainly go along with that.

A bit more complicated.

But, your'e using a phrasal verb.

And the third one:

That's how I see it too.

Nice one! That's a common one.

Now! You see I have put some adverbs for you in brackets.

If you want to sound more enthusiastic in your agreement,

add these adverbs in.

Listen to them with the adverbs.

I'd certainly go along with that.

That's precisely how I see it too.

And notice that as I am saying these expressions, I am stressing the adverb.

I'd certainly go along with that.

That's precisely how I see it too.

Now, let's look at some formal expressions for agreeing.

I couldn't agree more.

I share your opinion.

Short ones. But, quite formal are:

So, use these only in situations where things are very formal.

In a business meeting, for example.

Now, let's look at some disagreeing expressions.

First, informal ones.

Okay. It's a bit direct.

But if your'e with friends, with family, relatives, your'e very close to them,

Okay. And they understand that your'e being direct,

I don't think so.

Your'e kidding, right?

So, that means that your are in disbelief.

You really don't agree with what your'e hearing.

So, these are informal.

Let's look at some neutral expressions for disagreeing.

I don't see it that way.

I'm not sure about that.

I can't go along with that.

And again, you see that I've put some adverbs for you in brackets,

to make it a bit milder this time.

Remember the adverbs like:

fully, absolutely, etc.

when we added for agreeing, made them more enthusiastic.

These do the opposite.

They make your disagreement a bit milder.

A bit easier to take, right?

Let's read them again with the adverbs.

I don't quite see it that way.

I'm not so sure about that.

I can't really go along with that.

By stressing the adverb, you are bringing the severity of your disagreement down.

So, neutral can be used in formal situations or in informal situations.

Nice ones to know, learn, and use.

Now, let's look at some disagreeing expressions in formal situations.

Business meetings, clients, someone you don't know very well.

And you can see that in all these expressions, we apologise for disagreeing.

Let's read them together.

I'm afraid I'd have to disagree.

Like your'e saying 'I'm sorry but I have to disagree'.

I see it rather differently, I'm afraid.

Again, apologising. This time, afterwards.

And the very formal expression:

I beg to differ.

Your'e begging to have a different opinion.

So, these are disagreeing expressions in formal situations.

Now, let's look at some examples of mismatching degrees of formality.

Someone say to you:

Hey! This is a cool place!

And you don't agree, and you say:

I beg to differ.

That just doesn't work.

Because this person is being very informal.

It's an informal situation.

And you suddenly use a very formal expression.

That really breaks the communication.

It's not appropriate.

So, lets look at appropriate expressions in this informal situation.

So the person has said:

This is a cool place.

And you want to disagree.

You can use an informal expression.

I don't think so.

Or, you can use one of the neutral expressions.

I'm not so sure about that.

Let's look at another example.

Now! Here we are in a formal situation.

Someone is speaking very formally saying:

I'm of the opinion that we should adopt a novel approach.

So, using formal expressions, long sentence.

And if you just go and say.

Use one of those informal expressions saying:

Yeah! I'm with you on that one.

There is a complete mismatch.

It's not appropriate.

So, let's look at examples or sentences, expressions you can use.

You can use one of the neutral ones:

Nice! Simple! Always works!

Or, become very formal as well and use one of those verbs we looked at:

That's it for the expressions I want to share with you today.

Before we wrap up,

just one little mistake that I often hear that I want to correct with you.

I often hear this expression, and I don't know why.

But, it's wrong!

So, what are your options when you use the word agree are:

Either I agree or Agreed.

So, if you want to use 'agreed', don't combine it with 'I'm'.

I agree or agreed.

Well, that's all for now.

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Thank you for watching

and bye for now.