3 Agreeing and Disagreeing Politely in English
Agreeing and Disagreeing
When we talk with others, it’s important to know how to agree and disagree politely. This helps us communicate our opinions while respecting others. There are different ways to agree or disagree, from strongly agreeing to partially disagreeing. Knowing how to use the right words can make your conversations smoother and friendlier.
Agreeing Strongly
When you completely agree with someone, you can use these phrases:
- “I totally agree with you.”
- “You’re absolutely right.”
- “That’s exactly how I feel.”
- “I couldn’t agree more.”
Examples
- “I totally agree with you about the new school rules. They make everything more organized.”
- “You’re absolutely right; that movie was fantastic!”
Agreeing Partially
Sometimes you might agree with part of what someone says, but not all of it. Here are some ways to show partial agreement:
- “I see your point, but…”
- “I agree with you to some extent.”
- “You’re right about that, but…”
- “That’s true, however…”
Examples
- “I see your point about the homework, but I think it’s important for learning.”
- “I agree with you to some extent; the game was fun, but it was also a bit too long.”
Disagreeing Strongly
If you completely disagree with someone, you can still be polite. Try these phrases:
- “I’m afraid I disagree.”
- “I don’t see it that way.”
- “I completely disagree.”
- “That’s not how I see it.”
Examples
- “I’m afraid I disagree with your opinion on the project. I think we should try a different approach.”
- “I completely disagree. I believe that everyone should have an equal chance.”
Disagreeing Partially
When you don’t fully disagree, but want to show a different perspective, use these phrases:
- “I see what you’re saying, but…”
- “I understand your point, but I think…”
- “You have a good point, but…”
- “That makes sense, however…”
Examples
- “I see what you’re saying, but I still think we should consider other options.”
- “You have a good point about studying hard, but it’s also important to take breaks.”
Hedging Language
Sometimes, when we speak, we want to make our statements less direct or forceful. This can help us sound more polite and considerate of others’ opinions. This is where hedging language is important. Hedging language uses words and phrases to soften what we say, making our communication more gentle and respectful.
Why Use Hedging Language?
- Politeness: It makes our statements less direct, which can be more polite.
- Uncertainty: It shows that we are not completely sure about something.
- Flexibility: It allows room for other opinions and ideas.
- Understanding: It helps us avoid sounding too strong or aggressive.
Hedging with Modals
Modals are special verbs that can help us hedge our statements. Some common modals are: might, could, may, should, and would.
Examples
- “It might rain tomorrow.” (not completely sure)
- “We could try a different approach.” (a suggestion showing a choice)
- “You may want to check your work.” (a polite way to give advice)
- “We should consider other options.” (a suggestion, not a strong statement)
- “I would say this is a good idea.” (softening the opinion to show openness)
Hedging with Qualifiers and Phrases
Qualifiers and phrases can also help us hedge our statements. Some useful ones include: a bit, a little, somewhat, maybe, I think, I feel, It seems, In my opinion, and possibly.
Examples
- “I’m a bit unsure about this plan.” (not completely confident)
- “This idea is a little risky.” (some risk, but not very risky)
- “It’s somewhat difficult to understand.” (it’s not very easy, but also not extremely hard)
- “Maybe we can try this method.” (a suggestion, not an order)
- “I think this could work.” (an opinion, not a fact)
- “I feel that we should discuss this further.” (a personal opinion)
- “It seems like a good solution.” (a possibility, but not 100%)
- “In my opinion, this is the best choice.” (a personal view)
- “This is possibly a better option.” (not completely certain)
Let’s Practice!
Opinion Line
- Place a line on the floor using tape. Label one end “Strongly Agree” and the other end “Strongly Disagree.”
- The teacher reads a statement (e.g., “Homework is necessary for learning”).
- Students stand on the line according to their opinion.
- Each student explains their position using phrases for agreeing or disagreeing.
Debate Pairs
- Get into pairs.
- Each pair gets a topic to discuss (e.g., “School uniforms should be mandatory”).
- One student takes the agreeing side and the other takes the disagreeing side.
- Each student uses polite phrases to agree or disagree, then switch roles.
Role-Playing Scenarios
- Get into small groups.
- Each group gets cards with different scenarios (e.g., “deciding on a class trip destination”) or arguments (e.g., “college tuition should be free in the United States”).
- Each student picks a card and expresses their opinion using agreeing or disagreeing phrases.
- Other group members respond with their own agreeing or disagreeing phrases, practicing hedging language when needed.
