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Agree and disagree phrases, how can you agree or disagree in

English?

When producing language, whether it be speaking or writing, one of the most

important language functions is that of agreeing and disagreeing. This language
function is essential because it allows speakers to negotiate meaning and reach
agreements while communicating with others. For this reason, in todays quick post,
I’m going to teach you how to express agreement and disagreement in English with
a comprehensive list of expressions that allow you to agree and disagree with others.
Also, I will show you a few expressions to express your opinions, as this is very
closely linked to how we agree or disagree with others.

The act of agreeing and disagreeing is part of everyday conversation in any

language. While learning the following phrases is important for being able to agree
and disagree in English, there’s nothing quite as valuable as experiencing these
types of conversations in person.

How to express agreement

In this section you have a series of expressions to show you how you can agree in
English in many different ways.

• I (completely / really / totally / absolutely / honestly / truly) agree with you (on
that)
• I really think / believe so, too.
• I couldn’t agree more.
• I have come to the same conclusion.
• I hold the same opinion.
• I have no objection whatsoever.
• I see what you mean and I (must) agree with you.
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• I see it that way, too.

• I share your opinion / view.
• I was just going to say that.
• You’re (completely / totally / absolutely) right.
• You have a point there.
• You’ve made a good point.
• We are of one mind (on…)
• We are of the same mind (on…)
• That’s (so / completely / absolutely / undeniably) true.
• That’s a really good point.
• Yeah, that’s just it.
• Fair enough.
• Yes, of course.
• No doubt about it.

STATEMENTS OF AGREEMENT
I agree.
This is a very straightforward way to express your position, though it does not offer
much more room for conversation.

(No,) I think you're right.

You could use this phrase two ways. If the person you are speaking to thinks their
opinion will be unpopular, but you agree with them, you can say "No," at the
beginning of the phrase. This means you disagree that their opinion is unpopular,
but you do agree with their opinion. (Complicated!) Otherwise, if you have nothing
else to add, you could just say "I think you're right."

Definitely.
This is a statement that shows you agree strongly with someone's opinion. You could
also say something else about why you agree so strongly.
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I couldn't agree more.

Though this phrase starts with a negative, it's actually expressing agreement. This
phrase actually means "I agree as much as it is possible to", but no one says that.

Absolutely! / Definitely! / Of Course!

These words express a strong agreement with another person.
• Do you think that eating less meat is better for the environment?
• Do you believe that hard work is the key to success?
• If I ask her on a date, do you think she’ll say yes?

I also think so.

When you’re in complete agreement with someone, this simple phrase is
appropriate.
• I think the meeting room in our office needs more chairs.
• I also think so.

• We need to study more to prepare for our exam on Monday.

• I also think so.

I agree with you a hundred percent. / I agree with you entirely.

This is another way to express that you’re in complete agreement with someone.
• Nothing can replace the feeling of reading paper books.
• I agree with you a hundred percent.

• I don’t think Jeff’s plan is going to work.

• I agree with you entirely.

You can say that again!

This indicates a very strong agreement. Usually, people don’t take this phrase
literally (word for word) and don’t actually repeat what they just said.
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• We shouldn’t worry about things we can’t control.

• You can say that again!

• Let’s focus on the positives instead of the negatives.

• You can say that again!

That’s so true!
• Helping others always makes me feel better.
• That’s so true! Helping others always makes me feel better too.

• Reading before bedtime helps me fall asleep better than watching television.
• That’s so true! Reading before bedtime helps me, too.

I was just going to say that!

• The wind is so cold today.
• I was just going to say that!

• I love this song.

• I was just going to say that!

You have a point there.

• I think recording the class lectures on my phone is easier than trying to write
down everything our professor says.
• You have a point there. I’m going to try doing that too.

• Maybe we should exercise in the park rather than in the gym that way we can
get some fresh air today.
• You have a point there. We need some fresh air.

Tell me about it!

This phrase is considered slang, and is not typically used in formal English.
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• Taking a taxi to work every day costs so much money.

• Tell me about it!

• I wish I could buy a house in the countryside and get out of the city for good.
• Tell me about it!

I have no objections.
This is perhaps one of the weaker phrases of agreement in English. Usually, people
say this when they’re not really committed to something but see no reason why they
should oppose it either.
• I think we should buy pink curtains for our study room.
• I have no objections to this. You can pick whatever color you want.

• We should take a break for 30 minutes and have a coffee.

• I have no objections to that plan. I’m ready for a break whenever you are.

How to express partial agreement

Sometimes, when discussing something in speaking or writing form, we may agree
with some aspects of what is being discussed, but not necessarily 100%. In those
cases we can use some expressions to say that we agree, but not completely, that
is, we partially agree. Let’s take a look at a few examples:
• I agree with you up to a point.
• I see what you mean, but…
• That idea is OK, but…
• I understand that, but…

How to express disagreement

Now, we will take a look at some disagreement expressions. Here’s a good list of
expressions to disagree in English:
• I’m afraid…
• I’m sorry but…
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• You may be right, but…

• That might be true, but…
• I beg to differ.
• I don’t agree with you on that / what you say.
• I don’t think you’re right.
• I don’t share your view.
• I think otherwise.
• I take a different view.
• I believe your argument doesn’t hold water.
• I´m not sure I agree with you.
• that doesn’t make much sense to me.
• that’s not always the case
• that’s not always / necessarily true.
• How to express opinions in English

STATEMENTS OF DISAGREEMENT

I disagree.
Plain and simple, this is a very straightforward way to disagree with what someone
says. However, it can come off as cold or argumentative, so use it carefully.

I'm not sure about that...

This is a way to disagree that sounds more gentle, you might use it when you think
someone is expressing something that is factually untrue.

Yes, but...
That's a good point but...
While both of these may sound like someone is agreeing, they are both a non-
confrontational way of disagreeing. You are pretending that you agree with what
someone says, and then immediately disagreeing with them.
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I think we're going to have to agree to disagree.

If you feel that you are at an impasse, or an argument where no solution is possible,
you might just say this phrase to end the conversation.

I beg to differ.
This phrase is usually considered a strong, formal and very polite phrase used for
disagreements.
• Chocolate cake is the best cake.
• I beg to differ. While chocolate cake is good, coconut cake is the best, in my
opinion.

• Cats are better pets than dogs.

• I beg to differ. I like cats, but in my opinion, dogs are the best.

No way!
This is an informal way to disagree. There’s usually a feeling of surprise and
disbelief when using this phrase.

• Jeff says that he can memorize everything for a test in just an hour!
• No way!

• Kelly says that she can run a mile in five minutes.

• No way!

I think there’s a better explanation.

• Our profits are down this year because our employees are taking too many
coffee breaks.
• I think there’s a better explanation. Maybe profits are down because our
new website keeps crashing.
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• I don’t think I did well on the test because I’m not very smart.
• I think there’s a better explanation. Maybe you didn’t do well on the test
because you never went to class.

Yes, but…
This phrase is used when you partially agree with some points but might not be in
complete agreement.

• I think we should plant a lot of trees in our front yard.

• Yes, but we don’t really have a lot of space to plant more than eight trees.

• We should buy new furniture for our bedroom.

• Yes, but we don’t have the money for new furniture right now.

To be honest, I don’t agree with that.

This is a polite way to disagree with someone.
• We should hire more people to get the work done so we don’t have to work
as hard.
• To be honest, I don’t agree with that. I think we can get the work done
ourselves if we just focus.

• Skateboarding is a lot safer than riding a bike.

• To be honest, I don’t agree with that. I know more people who have had
skateboarding accidents than bike accidents.

That’s not always true. / That’s not entirely true.

• Exercise is the best way to maintain your weight.
• That’s not entirely true. You also need to eat a healthy diet.
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• Smart people don’t need help from anyone to get their work done.
• That’s not always true.

As a matter of fact, I don’t think that’s correct.

This is a more firm but formal way to express your disagreement.
• There’s no use in learning new things once you’re old.
• As a matter of fact, I don’t think that’s correct.

• All people work better in teams.

• As a matter of fact, I don’t think that’s correct.

You can’t be serious!

This is again an informal way to disagree with someone strongly. It also expresses
disbelief.
• I think we should stop printing books because no one reads anymore.
• You can’t be serious!

• There’s no use in saving money.

• You can’t be serious!

Connectors
What is a connector?
Connectors - also called conjunctive words - are words that link two similar elements
in a sentence.

Is a general term for a word that joins a word, phrase or clause to another clause.
In traditional grammar, this is called a "conjunction". *Linguistic description reserves
the term "conjunction" for the "coordinator" and. (See Conjunction vs. Disjunction.)
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Linker Words or Word Connectors are used to link large groups of words: phrases
and sentences. You can also use them to connect paragraphs to give them
coherence. Sentence connectors are usually placed at the beginning of a sentence
and may be categorized as follows:

Connectors in English grammar are basically conjunctive words which are used for
connecting similar elements present in a sentence. There are different connectors
in English which can be used for expressing your thoughts in a better way. Smart
use of linkers can omit the requirement of single sentences and help in connecting
the sentence in a more logical way.

Types of connectors
Contrast
This type of connector is used to create continuity in the text between two clauses
that present contradictory ideas.
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Cause
Also known as causative connectors, these are used to explain the reason behind
something.

Effect
Everything we do has a consequence. In the previous category, we discussed what
causes something to happen, in this case, we’re talking about the effect or result of
an action.

Purpose
You can use the purpose connectors when you want to express the intention behind
an action or decision.
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Addition
These are used when you want to expand an idea by adding arguments.

Connectors to give examples

We use illustration connectors to clarify an idea by using examples.
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Opinion connectors
You can start the sentence with these connectors when you want to express your
point of view.

Explanatory connectors
These connectors can be used to give more details about the idea being developed.
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To establish a sequence
These connectors allow us to describe ideas in a sequential and organised manner.

More Examples:
1. I hope the bus comes soon. Otherwise, I’ll be late for my appointment with
the doctor.
2. Are you going to the store? If so, can you get me some milk?
3. I missed the bus. As a result, I missed my flight
4. I’m expecting the traffic to be heavy. Therefore, let’s leave early.
5. Drake lived in Spain for 5 years, hence his perfect Spanish.
6. Many European countries, namely Italy and France, produce the best wine
7. The tobacco company had a cash flow problem—in other words, it was
bankrupt
8. John cooked dinner while Jasmine prepared desert.
9. Josh has been unhappy ever since he changed jobs
10. I’ll give you a hand as soon as I can.
11. Let’s have our picnic today in case it rains tomorrow.
12. I’ll speak slowly so that you can write down the sentences correctly.
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REPORT

If a discourse is coherent, we can read it without obstacles. To find coherence in

what is expressed in an overall or written way, grammatical tools such as connectors
are used. Connectors are words or expressions that serve to interweave ideas in a
sentence, and as already mentioned, we use them when we speak and when we
write. They enable coherence in argumentation, because they help to organize ideas
in a logical order.

As could be seen in the development of the document, there are many types of
connectors in our language, which express relationships of different meaning.
Connectors are used not only to join simple or compound sentences together, but to
give cohesion and coherence to a longer text, to mark transitions between one
paragraph and another; in short, to globally integrate the meaning of discourse.

Therefore, the connectors can be used in both written and oral texts. Its main
function, as its name implies, is to connect different parts of a text, whether they are
words, sentences or even entire paragraphs.

In addition, connectors are a fundamental part when what we need is to express our
opinion or point of view in favor or against a particular issue or situation, or in any
case, refer to what we agree on and what we do not agree with.

Among the most used and common expressions in the English language, the
expressions of agreement and disagreement are essential to interact in any
environment where you operate.

It is important to learn to express our opinion to express our own likes and dislikes
since our opinion is something that defines us and separates us from the rest, and
at the same time, it is also important because giving our opinion means giving the
other the possibility to change, improve or review what we do not like.
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REFERENCES

Dhritiman, R. (2018). Two Sides of the Coin: Agreeing and Disagreeing in English
Conversations. Recovered on February 19, 2021. In Internet:
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/agreeing-and-disagreeing/

Holderness, R. (2021). How to agree and disagree in english. Recovered on

February 19, 2021. In Internet: https://www.kaplaninternational.com/blog/learning-
languages/how-to-agree-and-disagree-english

(2019). How to Express Agreement and Disagreement. Recovered on February 19,

2021. In Internet: https://kseacademy.com/how-express-agreement-disagreement/

(2020). Connectors in English Grammar: Simple Guide to Learn the Use of Linkers.
Recovered on February 19, 2021. In Internet:
https://thefluentlife.com/content/linkers-connectors-english-grammar-guide-types-
cause-effect-purpose/

Ogues, D. (2018). Improve Your English Fluency by Using 6 Types of Connectors.

Recovered on February 19, 2021. In Internet:
https://www.lingualbox.com/blog/improve-your-english-fluency-by-using-6-types-of-
connectors

(2019). How to use paragraph connectors in English. Recovered on February 19,

2021. In Internet: https://blog.abaenglish.com/paragraph-connectors-in-english/