Better Ways to Agree and Disagree in English

Better Ways to Agree and Disagree in English

Hello English learners! Welcome to a new lesson on better ways to agree and disagree in English.

Saying yes or no is easy. Saying it politely, confidently, and naturally is where real English begins. Native speakers rarely say a blunt “I agree” or “I disagree” — especially in discussions, meetings, essays, or exams. Instead, they soften, strengthen, or balance their opinions depending on the situation.

In this lesson, you’ll learn natural, grown-up expressions for strong agreement, partial or polite agreement, soft disagreement and strong disagreement.

These expressions are perfect for speaking exams, discussions, essays, reviews, and professional English.

Ways to Agree in English

Strong agreement

Use these when you completely agree and want to sound confident and engaged.

I couldn’t agree more.

→ I couldn’t agree more — communication really is the key to success.

You’re absolutely right.

→ You’re absolutely right about the importance of preparation.

That’s exactly how I feel.

→ That’s exactly how I feel about online learning.

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

→ That sums it up perfectly — I couldn’t have said it better myself.

I’m with you on that.

→ I’m with you on that — deadlines really do improve focus.

It goes without saying that…

→ It goes without saying that practice improves fluency.

Absolutely! / Definitely!

→ Absolutely — that’s a brilliant idea.

Natural conversational agreement

These sound relaxed and very native-like.

That’s so true.

→ That’s so true — motivation makes a huge difference.

You can say that again.

→ This weather is miserable.

→ You can say that again.

Tell me about it.

→ This exam is stressful.

→ Tell me about it.

I was just about to say the same.

→ I was just about to say the same — teamwork matters.

I see where you’re coming from.

→ I see where you’re coming from, and I agree.

Ways to Agree and Disagree in English

Ways to Partly Agree (Polite & Balanced)

In real life, we often agree but not completely. These expressions are perfect for discussions and exam answers.

I agree to a certain extent.

→ I agree to a certain extent, but cost is also an issue.

I agree with you in principle, but…

→ I agree with you in principle, but it’s hard to apply in practice.

I take your point, but…

→ I take your point, but I’m not convinced it will work.

You have a point there, however…

→ You have a point there; however, the situation is more complex.

I agree with you up to a point.

→ I agree with you up to a point, but experience also matters.

Ways to Disagree Politely

Disagreeing politely is a life skill. These expressions soften your opinion and sound respectful.

I’m not so sure about that.

→ I’m not so sure about that — the data suggests otherwise.

I’m afraid I see things differently.

→ I’m afraid I see things differently on this issue.

That may be true, but…

→ That may be true, but we should consider the risks.

I’m not convinced that…

→ I’m not convinced that remote work suits everyone.

Do you really think so? I’d say…

→ Do you really think so? I’d say motivation matters more.

Ways to Disagree Strongly

Use these carefully — they are direct and should be used only when appropriate.

I totally disagree.

→ I totally disagree — that approach would fail.

I beg to differ.

→ I beg to differ — experience tells a different story.

I’m completely against that.

→ I’m completely against that proposal.

No way.

→ No way — that’s not acceptable.

In B2 First and C1 Advanced, examiners love balanced opinions, polite disagreement and clear structure. Try this pattern:

Acknowledge → Contrast → Opinion

✔ I see your point; however, I believe the disadvantages outweigh the benefits.

Simple. Elegant. Examiner-friendly.

Mastering agreement and disagreement isn’t about memorising phrases — it’s about sounding human, thoughtful, and confident. These expressions will help you participate naturally in conversations, debates, meetings, and exam tasks without sounding blunt or unsure.

If you really want to learn English but don’t know how to do it and where to start, don’t hesitate to contact us. Book an online English lesson with one of our certified and experienced English teachers and take a test and consultation! Click the button to learn more!