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.

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!

Discussion

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Submitted by macarena.ns on Fri, 15/11/2024 - 22:53

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When was the last time you disagreed with someone?

One day I was in disagreement with a classmate at school. We had to do a presentation, he wanted to do it about books, but I wanted to do it about movies. We were both arguing about what to do and  in the end we decided to create it about movies based on books.

Submitted by rainer_hs on Thu, 14/11/2024 - 12:52

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The last time I disagreed with my friends when we talked about evaluating our team. I said that we need to make the evaluation based on data, not just experience. However, they agreed with my statement, and in the end, we had lunch together.

Submitted by jaquisanchez13. on Wed, 16/10/2024 - 01:09

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I think we always agreee a disagreeing with people in our enviroment, like family, work, friend or even a person who you unknown, but for any reason you have a little discussion or talk o debate about something.

Submitted by SENOUCI DJAMEL on Sun, 06/10/2024 - 22:49

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Agrreeing and desagreeing with a person whom you have work, business or familial relationships, is often beneficial. So we will not be able to enhance or develop a work project, for example, if we do not sit down at round table and discuss its details. in fact, when   i agree and the other desagree by supporting our thesis with convincing pretexts and when each of us listen carfully to the other's opinion we'll be sure that our efforts will succed and  the succes possibility will evidently rise.

Submitted by gliben on Sun, 06/10/2024 - 18:06

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Yesterday I read an article about a journalist who made a very unemphatetic comment about a civil activist who has just passed away. I strongly disagreed with the journalist's opinion. 

Submitted by Paukzen on Sun, 08/09/2024 - 11:27

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My boss this week fired four employees, my colleagues, all at once, without telling anyone anything first. It was a shock and I did not agree with the method in the first place

Submitted by hatice2 on Thu, 29/08/2024 - 16:56

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When was the last time you disagreed with someone?

The last  time  I disagreed with someone was yesterday. Actually I often disagreed with him becouse we think different about a lot of things. But this is not problem. I think his is normall. But the problem is he dont accept any ıdea of others . He thinks he always thinks right and does rights. Every thing ecept him is wrong . So I m tired whwn I discuss with him 

Submitted by Karine Degrève on Thu, 29/08/2024 - 11:37

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Yesterday I disagreed with a supplier who was trying to obtain information through the sales department that we refused to give to the purchasing department. 

Submitted by larrykkk on Sun, 18/08/2024 - 15:56

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i offen disagree someone, specailly in work time, my job is to build a website ui and interaction, but sometimes ui designer was design a too hard to make ui or impossable, so i need to disagree then at the design, but i will try do my best to fit desgin, ah totally my job is need discuss, but sometimes i feel lazy to discuss, ah, i hate my job