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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Average: 4.5 (107 votes)

Submitted by alexiamontes2004 on Fri, 01/07/2022 - 01:32

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When was the last time you disagreed with someone?

It was a few days ago when I did not agree with my cousin about the criticism of a book that we read together since she had different opinions about it than mine.

Submitted by marinacaldas on Wed, 29/06/2022 - 20:14

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Last night, I was talking to my friend about a project and he was telling me his ideas. Unfortunately, we where thinking different about the same thing, so we have to discuss and come to a conclusion. At the end of the discussion, we agreed with each other.

Submitted by khalid muhammed on Mon, 27/06/2022 - 20:27

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Yesterday I disagreed with my teammate about what design of a sprocket is suitable for our car project, he said we have to use 12 teeth sprocket and I see it better to be 14 teeth after we discussed it a long time and tried to prove our opinions mathematically, we asked our team leader to give us his point of view and he said we should give him time to think and will us his opinion today, we are still waiting.

Submitted by meg11 on Mon, 27/06/2022 - 09:13

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i disagree usually with may home mate, we are friends ma we have different opinion and so we discuss everything often but our comparisons are always constructive and we never argue

Submitted by lufegaba on Sun, 26/06/2022 - 11:25

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I disagree on something everyday with muy colleagues. Unfortunately it's not possible to fix our dissapointments as easy as in that video. Many often one Chief is needed to take a decission.

Submitted by May Myoe Su Khaing on Sun, 26/06/2022 - 11:14

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Thank you very much.

Submitted by iam_eam on Tue, 07/06/2022 - 11:50

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Last night i disagreed with my friend, He wanted to get today off from the gym workout without any reason, just because He doesn't like leg day :D
But I convenced him to go and take tomorrow off insteed of today because it's our rest day anyway :D

Submitted by redragons0 on Wed, 01/06/2022 - 12:49

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When I went to the store yesterday, I disagreed with the employee as she was persuading me to buy a white shoe. However, I wanted to buy a black shoe.