Learning objectives
- Use a range of expressions to introduce a personal opinion in English
- Express agreement with someone else's opinion using appropriate phrases
- Express disagreement politely and appropriately, depending on the situation
- Express partial agreement by acknowledging a valid point before adding a nuance
- Choose the right level of formality for spoken and written contexts
- Use these expressions correctly in a discussion, debate or piece of written argument
- Avoid common grammatical errors linked to these expressions
Grammar & vocabulary
Giving an opinion
In my opinion, ... — "In my opinion, homework should be limited on weekends." I believe that ... — "I believe that technology has more advantages than disadvantages." As far as I'm concerned, ... — "As far as I'm concerned, this rule is unfair." From my point of view, ... — "From my point of view, students need more free time." Personally, I think ... — "Personally, I think this decision was the right one." It seems to me that ... — "It seems to me that the situation is more complicated than it looks." (more tentative, often used in formal writing)
Agreeing
I completely agree. — "I completely agree with what you just said." That's exactly what I think. I couldn't agree more. You're absolutely right. I'm of the same opinion. (more formal) Exactly! / Absolutely! (informal, mostly spoken)
Disagreeing
More polite / formal: I'm afraid I disagree. I'm not sure I agree with that. I see it differently. I beg to differ. (formal, sometimes used with a touch of irony) More direct / informal: I don't agree. I don't think so. No way! (very informal, spoken only) In a debate or essay, the more polite forms are almost always the better choice — they challenge the idea without sounding aggressive.
Agreeing partially
I agree to some extent, but ... That's true, however, ... You have a point, but I still think ... I see what you mean, but ... Up to a point, I agree, but ... These phrases first acknowledge that the other person's idea has some truth or value, and then introduce a nuance or a counterargument — a very useful structure for a balanced argumentative essay.
Choosing the right level of formality
Formal writing (essays, letters) favors phrases like "As far as I'm concerned", "I would argue that", or "I am not entirely convinced by this argument". Informal speech allows shorter, more casual phrases like "I guess so", "Totally!", or "No way". For the Bac, argumentative essays and formal discussions should generally use a neutral-to-formal register, avoiding overly casual expressions.
Common mistakes
Saying 'I am agree' instead of 'I agree' — 'agree' is a verb in English, not an adjective, so it never follows 'am/is/are'; the correct form is 'I agree with you,' not 'I am agree with you.'
Confusing 'agree with' and 'agree to' — 'agree with' is used with a person or an idea ('I agree with you'), while 'agree to' is used with a plan or a proposal ('I agree to your proposal').
Overusing strong, direct disagreement phrases in formal writing — 'You're totally wrong' is too blunt for a formal essay; a more appropriate alternative is 'I would argue otherwise' or 'I'm not convinced by this argument.'
Confusing 'opinion' and 'advice' — an opinion is what someone thinks or believes ('In my opinion, this is true'), while advice is a suggestion about what someone should do ('My advice is to study every day'); opinion phrases should not be used to introduce a suggestion.
Replacing 'that' with 'what' after 'believe' or 'think' — 'I believe what this is true' is incorrect; the correct form is 'I believe that this is true' or simply 'I believe this is true.'
Worked example — A short debate
Dialogue
A: "In my opinion, all students should wear a school uniform. It creates equality between students." B: "I see what you mean, but I'm not sure I agree with that. Uniforms can also limit self-expression." A: "That's true, however, I still believe uniforms reduce distractions in the classroom." B: "You have a point, but I think the disadvantages are greater." A: "Well, I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree on this one!"
Explanation
"In my opinion" introduces A's viewpoint. "I see what you mean, but I'm not sure I agree with that" shows B partially acknowledging the point before disagreeing — a polite disagreement, not a blunt one. "That's true, however" and "You have a point, but" are both partial-agreement phrases: each speaker admits the other has a valid point before restating their own position. "Agree to disagree" is a common idiomatic expression meaning that both people accept they will not reach the same conclusion and choose to stop the argument politely.
3 practice exercises
Exercise 1
EasyClassify each phrase under the correct function: opinion, agreement, disagreement, or partial agreement. 1) I couldn't agree more. 2) As far as I'm concerned, ... 3) I'm afraid I disagree. 4) You have a point, but I still think... 5) I believe that... 6) I don't think so. 7) I see it differently. 8) That's exactly what I think.
Show answer
1) agreement 2) opinion 3) disagreement 4) partial agreement 5) opinion 6) disagreement 7) disagreement 8) agreement.
Exercise 2
MediumComplete the dialogue with an appropriate phrase for the function shown in brackets. A: I think exams cause too much stress and should be replaced with continuous assessment. B: ___ (disagree, politely). I think exams are still the fairest way to measure what students have learned. A: ___ (partial agreement) exams can be useful, but I still think there should be other ways to assess students too. B: ___ (agree) — a mix of methods would probably be the best solution.
Show answer
Possible answers: B: "I'm afraid I disagree." A: "You have a point, but" (or "That's true, however,"). B: "I completely agree."
Exercise 3
HardRewrite each sentence using more appropriate, less direct language for a formal discussion or essay. 1) 'You're totally wrong about this.' 2) 'No way, that's a bad idea.' 3) 'I guess that's kind of true, but...'
Show answer
1) "I'm afraid I have to disagree with that." / "I would argue otherwise." 2) "I'm not convinced that this is the right approach." 3) "I agree to some extent, but..." / "That's true to a certain extent, however..."
3 exercices, c'est un début.
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FAQ
What is a polite way to disagree with someone in English?
Polite ways to disagree include 'I'm afraid I disagree,' 'I'm not sure I agree with that,' or 'I see it differently' — these soften the disagreement and are more appropriate than a very direct 'I don't agree' in formal or polite conversation.
How do you express that you agree with only part of what someone said?
To agree partially, first acknowledge the valid point and then add a nuance or counterpoint, using phrases such as 'I agree to some extent, but...', 'That's true, however...', or 'You have a point, but I still think...'.
What is the correct way to say you agree in English — 'I am agree' or 'I agree'?
'I agree' is correct. 'Agree' is a verb in English, not an adjective, so it is never used after 'am/is/are' — 'I am agree with you' is incorrect; the correct form is simply 'I agree with you.'