1. Skills
  2. Speaking
  3. B1 speaking
  4. Agreeing and disagreeing

Agreeing and disagreeing

In this video, Emir and Paul discuss a design for a client. Listen to the language they use for agreeing and disagreeing and practise saying the useful phrases.

Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and do the exercises to check your understanding and practise the language.

Preparation

Speaking B1: Agreeing and disagreeing – preparation

Transcript

Ana: Hi! I'm Ana. Welcome to What to Say!

Do you know what to say when you agree and disagree? Listen out for useful language for agreeing and disagreeing. Then, we'll practise saying the new phrases – after this.

 

Paul: So?

Emir: I'm not convinced by that idea.

Paul: Why?

Emir: Well, this design is just too simple. 

Paul: It's not simple, it's minimal. Plus, it's what the client asked for.

Emir: I'm not so sure. Look … Look at these designs here. I think this is the style that the client wants.

Paul: Hmmm … I think I disagree. They said they wanted it clean and minimal.

Emir: These designs are clean and minimal. 

Paul: Look, don't get me wrong, Emir. I like them, but I don't think they fit the brief. For example, here, there's just a bit too much going on.

Emir: OK, I see what you mean, but without all the colour, it would look a bit … empty. 

Paul: True. OK, how about taking that and that away? So it still looks interesting, but less busy. 

Emir: OK … maybe you've got a point there. Actually, that has given me an idea.

…

Emir: So we remove the blue. I think that creates a nice balance.

Paul: Yeah, yeah. I think you're right. Changing the circles helped too. 

Emir: I agree. So we're happy with this now?

Paul: Yes, definitely. 

Emir: So it looks like we can agree!

Paul: Occasionally. 

 

Ana: Hello again! I'm pleased that Paul and Emir agreed with each other in the end. So, did you notice the useful phrases used for agreeing and disagreeing? Listen to me and then repeat. 

 

I'm not convinced by that idea.

I'm not so sure.

I think I disagree.

Don't get me wrong, but I don't think they fit. 

I see what you mean, but it looks a bit empty. 

OK, maybe you've got a point there.

I think you're right.

Yes, definitely.

I agree. 

 

Ana: Try and use some of these phrases the next time you agree and disagree in English. Bye for now!

Task 1

Speaking B1: Agreeing and disagreeing – 1

Task 2

Speaking B1: Agreeing and disagreeing – 2

Task 3

Speaking B1: Agreeing and disagreeing – 3

Discussion

When was the last time you disagreed with someone?

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Worksheet92.5 KB

Language level

B1 Intermediate
Average: 4.4 (170 votes)
Profile picture for user Mai. O.

Submitted by Mai. O. on Sat, 06/03/2021 - 14:54

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Last week I disagreed with my housemate. We are friends and we are planning to rent a place just for the two of us. She prefers a house and I prefer an apartment. The main issue is she wants to have a small garden, and I am ok finding a park nearby. We finally agreed on renting a small house with a patio, close to the park we both enjoy going for a run.

Submitted by Ari on Tue, 02/03/2021 - 20:14

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Last time I disagreed with my sister's choice of the movie we wanted to watch. This happens all the time, because we love different genres, but sometimes we really want to watch something together. So we argue for a long time before finding the best movie.

Submitted by Abrarhussain on Mon, 01/03/2021 - 23:23

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The last time I disagreed with my friend it was about the latest technology, it makes people so lazy.

Submitted by Saad786 on Sat, 27/02/2021 - 10:41

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I disagreed with my friend last time when we were planning our fun fair trip. He wanted to take bat and bowl with him to play cricket at fun fair. I could not agree with him as I wanted to play video games there. Consequently our plan failed. Afterwards, we agreed to take football at fun fair because there was big lush-green outfields.

Submitted by Adrian49 on Thu, 25/02/2021 - 20:34

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Hi everyone! First of all, I don't know why this website shows that I'm located in Germany. However, last time I disagreed with my colleague. We have anything in common and we often argue.

Hello Adrian49,

I'm sorry about the mix-up regarding your location. If you choose the Edit tab when you log in, you can modify your account. Choose the 'Account information' tab and then at the bottom of the screen you should see a list of options for your country.

Hope this helps.

All the best,

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Torrent on Tue, 16/02/2021 - 23:54

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Sometimes people desagree to each other mainly when they are working together.

Submitted by Carlos Rodriguez on Sat, 13/02/2021 - 18:29

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A few days I was discussing with an friend about this sentece she wrote "I going to ask a review when I will arrive to my home" the contest was a English home work for practice, ... then I corrected her and I said: I think, I disagree. Don't get wrong, but I don't think that phases fit the sentence. Finally I sent to her this correct structure " I'm going to review it, when I will arrive at home"... but She stay in disagreeing with me finally.

Hello Operations Learnings English,

I'm afraid neither sentence is correct! We would not use 'will' here in the if-clause, or 'at' with 'arrive'. You could say any of these:

I'm going to review it, when I arrive home.

I'm going to review it, when I get home.

I'm going to review it, when I am at home.

Also, if you say I'm going to review it then the speaker is doing the review themselves. If someone else is doing the review for you, then you need to say I'm going to ask for a review or I'm going to get someone to review it.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team