Lesson

Language of agreeing and disagreeing

Express agreement tactfully

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Language of agreeing and disagreeing

This lesson covers common phrases and strategies to agree, disagree, or partially agree in professional conversations. You'll learn direct and polite forms, softer ways to disagree, and how to combine agreement with a contrasting idea.

  • Direct agreement: clear, strong approval (e.g., "I agree").
  • Polite disagreement: softer, respectful refusal or contrast (e.g., "I see your point, but...").
  • Partial agreement: acknowledge part of the idea, then add a limitation or alternative.
  • Use tone and hedging (e.g., "might", "could", "perhaps") to stay professional.

Choosing the right phrase depends on formality, relationship, and how strong your opinion is.

Table

Common expressions for agreeing and disagreeing

Expression Type Example
I agree Direct agreement I agree with your recommendation to increase the budget.
I couldn't agree more Strong agreement I couldn't agree more — the new process will save time.
I see your point Acknowledgement I see your point about customer retention.
I see your point, but... Partial agreement + contrast I see your point, but we need to consider the timeline.
I'm not sure I agree Polite disagreement I'm not sure I agree with that approach yet.
I disagree Direct disagreement I disagree — the projected numbers seem optimistic.
I'm afraid I disagree Polite direct disagreement I'm afraid I disagree; the data suggests otherwise.
On the other hand... Contrast phrase On the other hand, outsourcing could reduce costs.
That's a good point Positive acknowledgement That's a good point; we should include it in the report.
Fair enough Acceptance after discussion Fair enough — let's proceed with your idea.

Tip

Key rule: Match phrase to tone and strength

Choose expressions based on how strongly you agree or disagree and how formal the situation is.

  • Strong agreement: use "I couldn't agree more" or "Absolutely."
  • Neutral agreement: use "I agree" or "That's a good point."
  • Polite disagreement: soften with "I'm not sure I agree" or "I see your point, but..."
  • Contrast politely: use connectors like "however", "on the other hand", or "that said".

In business settings prefer polite language and hedging for disagreements.

Example

Examples in context

I agree with your recommendation to hire an extra analyst for the Q3 report.

I see your point, but we should run a cost analysis before deciding.

I'm afraid I disagree with that timeline; we need at least two more weeks.

That's a good point — perhaps we can pilot the change with one team first.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Learners often make errors that reduce clarity or politeness when agreeing or disagreeing.

  • Being too blunt: direct disagreement without softening can sound rude in professional contexts.
  • Overusing strong phrases: "I couldn't agree more" is inappropriate if you only partly agree.
  • Mixing contradictory connectors: avoid using both "however" and "also" in a way that confuses contrast.
  • Incorrect collocations: say "agree with an idea/person" and "agree to a proposal" appropriately.
  • Using negatives improperly: "I don't agree with nothing" creates a double negative and a wrong meaning.

Focus on tone and collocations to keep communication clear and professional.

Quiz

Choose the most polite way to disagree in a formal meeting:

Hint: Look for a phrase that softens the disagreement and gives a reason.

Quiz

Complete: I _____ with your proposal, but we need to confirm the budget.

Hint: Think about the verb used to show agreement with an idea or proposal.

Quiz

Which sentence shows partial agreement (acknowledge + contrast)?

Hint: Look for an acknowledgement followed by a contrasting connector like 'but'.

Key Points

Vocabulary

agree

verb CEFR A2 //əˈɡriː//

to have the same opinion as someone or to accept a suggestion

I agree with the proposed timeline.

Vocabulary

disagree

verb CEFR A2 //ˌdɪsəˈɡriː//

to have a different opinion or to say that you do not accept something

I disagree with that conclusion based on the data.

Expression

I see your point

expression CEFR B1 //aɪ siː jɔːr pɔɪnt//

a phrase used to acknowledge someone else's idea before adding your own view

I see your point, but we need more evidence.

Expression

I'm afraid I disagree

expression CEFR B2 //aɪm əˈfreɪd aɪ ˌdɪsəˈɡriː//

a polite way to express disagreement, often used in formal contexts

I'm afraid I disagree; the latest figures tell a different story.

GrammarPoint

On the other hand

phrase (connector) CEFR B1 //ɒn ði ˈʌðər hænd//

used to introduce a contrasting idea or alternative

Outsourcing may reduce costs. On the other hand, it could affect quality.

Expression

that said

expression CEFR B2 //ðæt sɛd//

used to introduce a comment that contrasts with something just said

The proposal is expensive. That said, it may improve efficiency significantly.