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)
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Submitted by siddhuk2002 on Mon, 04/10/2021 - 07:05

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Hi all! It depends on a lot of situations. Sometimes I disagree with my brother when he's telling a lie. Sometimes it escalates to fights.

Submitted by krigss91350 on Fri, 10/09/2021 - 07:57

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i was disagreed with one client of mine yesterday. He wants to cover his balcony by lime boards instead of pines ones. I didn't try to persuade him to change this decision because he has already bought this lime boards and insulation as well. Soon after his balcony will have been covered by these lime boards there are appear mold and mildew because of moisture and because that lime boards don't have resin inside theirselves.

Submitted by Celise Monteir… on Sat, 04/09/2021 - 02:29

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Im my work, I desagree with one collegue all the time. But, I improve to deal with a conflict, and many times I stop to listean, I explain my ideas and we try to reach a consensus.

Submitted by KarenAvdalyan on Mon, 30/08/2021 - 11:14

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I often disagree with my colleague when we discuss a new task or feature about the project, however like in the video above we always find a way to agree with each other.
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Submitted by carolina guerrero on Fri, 02/07/2021 - 03:21

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the last time I'm desagree whit someone was when I did an university's work whit a friend. Was difficult to agree.

Submitted by maximumjeff on Sat, 26/06/2021 - 08:12

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The disagreement that I had with my friend was about which movies to watch. She wanted to see love movie and I wanted action film. We finally chose to watch a humorous one.

Submitted by GiulianaAndy on Thu, 17/06/2021 - 20:19

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The last time I disagreed with someone was before the pandemic, in 2019, I was talking to my comrade, and then we disagreed our ideas about a project, and I rejected him. It was an awful situation, but finally the problem was solved

Submitted by Pann Nilar Htun on Wed, 16/06/2021 - 08:58

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I am flexible and negotiable one. I don't think I am always right. when I disagree with someone, I pointed out her what are the reasons. On the same time, we tried to find out the best solutions of the problem with win-win method. Many thanks for other collogues' interesting comment.

Submitted by Cima on Fri, 04/06/2021 - 17:25

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Yesterday I disagreed with some calls mates on how to make an online campaign and how we target the customers but everyone has a different idea about it, finally we agreed on putting two options together.

Submitted by Sika2803 on Sat, 29/05/2021 - 16:41

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Two days ago, I disagreed with my friend about her study. Since she started her part-time job, she has become failing in schoolwork. It’s also the reason of my disagreement. At that time, I gave her some advices to hope she realizes which is more important. But I don’t know how she think after hearing my sincerely spoken, because she seems to wanna earn money more. No matter how we still young, i think we should focus on our studying first.