GROUP DISCUSION PHRASES

EXPRESSIONS USED TO AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH AN OPINION

Agree or Disagree with the Idea Not the Person
A. How to Agree Strongly with an Opinion. 1. I couldn't agree more! 2. That's absolutely true! 3. Absolutely! 4. I agree with your point. 5. I'd go along with your point. 6. I'm with you on that point. 7. That's just what I was thinking. 8. That's exactly what I think. 9. That's a good point. 10. That's just how I see it. 11. That's exactly my opinion.	B. How to Half Agree with an Opinion. 1. Yes, perhaps, however ... 2. Well, yes, but ... 3. Yes, in a way, however ... 4. Hmm, possibly, but ... 5. Yes, I agree up to a point, however ... 6. Well, you have a point there, but ... 7. There's something there, I suppose, however ... 8. I guess your idea could be right, but ... 9. Yes, I suppose so, however ... 10. That's worth thinking about, but ...
C. How to Disagree Politely with an Opinion. 1. I am not so sure. 2. Do you think so? 3. Well, it depends. 4. I'm not so certain. 5. Well, I don't know. 6. Well, I'm not so sure about that. 7. Hmm, I'm not sure your idea is right. 8. I'm inclined to disagree with that idea. 9. No, I don't think so.	D. How to Disagree Strongly with an Opinion. 1. I disagree. 2. I disagree with your idea. 3. I'm afraid I don't agree. 4. I'm afraid your idea is wrong. 5. I can't agree with your idea. 6. I couldn't accept that idea for a minute. 7. You can't actually mean that. 8. I wouldn't go along with your idea there. 9. You can't be serious about that point. 10. You must be joking. 11. It's possible you are mistaken about that.
You need to be very polite when disagreeing with someone in English, even someone you know quite well. With someone you know very well, you can disagree more directly.

PHRASES USED IN DISCUSSIONS

Phrases for Starting a conversation or discussion, and for asking someone's opinion:

I'd like to know...

I'm interested in...

Could I ask...? [formal]

Could you tell me...? [formal]

Perhaps you could tell... [formal]

What do you think of...

Phrases for interrupting:

Excuse me...

Sorry, but...

Excuse me for interrupting, but... [formal]

May I interrupt for a moment? [formal]

Just a second... [informal]

Can I add something?

Can I say something here?

I'd like to say something, if I may. [formal]

Can I ask a question?

May I ask a question? [formal]

Phrases to use when you are explaining your opinion:

First of all,...

The main reason is...

The main thing is...

The most important thing is...

Secondly,...

The other reason is...

Another reason is...

Besides that, ...

And on top of that,...

And finally,...

Phrases to use when you want to refer to a point in someone's argument:

The trouble is...

The problem is...

The trouble with...

The problem with...

The point is...

Don't forget that...

Phrases to use when you want to say something you think is new information:

Do you realise that...

Believe it or not,...

You may not believe it, but...

It may sound strange, but...

The surprising thing is...

Surprisingly,...

Oddly enough,...

Funnily enough,... [informal]

Phrases to use when what you are going to say may surprise or shock:

Actually,...

The only thing is...

To tell you the truth,...

To be honest,...

Frankly,...

Phrases to use when you want to change the subject:

Talking of...

That reminds me...

By the way,... [informal]

Oh, before I forget,...

Phrases to use when giving your opinion, but when you are not certain:

I think...

I suppose...

I suspect that...

I'm pretty sure that...

I'm fairly certain that...

I wonder if...

Phrases to use when you are certain of your opinion:

I'm certain that...

I'm sure that

It's my opinion that...

I'm convinced that...

I honestly believe that...

I strongly believe that...

Without a doubt...

I'm positive...

I'm absolutely certain that...

Phrases to use when you want to emphasize that what you are going to say is your own opinion:

In my opinion,...

I personally believe...

I personally think...

I personally feel...

Not everyone will agree with me, but...

In my opinion,...

From my point of view,...

Well, personally,...

In my case... 

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.

VOCABULARY FOR DEBATES AND DISCUSSION

When you want to state an opinion:
INFORMAL	FORMAL
In my opinion____ I think that_____ I feel that______ I believe that______ It seems to me that________ If you ask me_____ I'd say that_______ The point is________ As I see it_______ I'd say that______ The point is______	You know what I think... I think that____ Wouldn't you say that_______? Don't you agree that_______? I'd just like to say that______ I'd like to point out that_______
When you want someone to repeat or explain:
I don't understand what you mean Would you explain that, please? I'm sorry, but I didn't understand your point. Could you give an example? What do you mean by_____?
When you want to agree with someone (in ascending order of formality):
You're right I think so, too I agree with you You could be right I couldn't agree more That's a good point I couldn't agree more I see what you mean That's just what I was thinking I agree entirely You know, that's exactly what I think
When you want to disagree with someone (in ascending order of formality)	Informal disagreement (between people you know very well)
Yes, but_____ I disagree That's not the point No, I think you're wrong Up to a point, but________ Yes, that's quite true, but_____ I'm not sure I quite agree Well, you have a point there, but_____ Perhaps, but don't you think that_____ I see what you mean, but_________ I tend to disagree with you there	I can't agree with you there You can't be serious!! Come off it! Don't be silly!
When you want to persuade someone:
You must admit that___ Do you really believe that_____? Don't you think that______? Don't you agree that____?

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS FOR DISCUSSIONS

VOCABULARY FOR DEBATES AND DISCUSSION  

EXPRESSIONS FOR DEBATE AND EXAMPLES OF SITUATIONS

USEFUL DEBATE VOCABULARY

GROUP DISCUSSION PHRASES

EXPRESSIONS USED FOR AGREEING AND DISAGREEING

EXPRESSIONS USED IN DEBATES

EXPRESSIONS IN SPANISH WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION

EXAMPLES OF DEBATES: ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST

TOPICS FOR DEBATE