Discussion Tools

AGREEING AND DISAGREEING

When you "agree"

    I know. - I do too. So do I.

     I entirely/quite agree with you.
     I think so too.    I don't think so either.
     I have the same opinion.
   I don't know either.   Nor/Neither do I.

When you "don't agree"

     I disagree with you. 
     I believe you are wrong.

When you "half agree"

    I'm not so sure about that, because...
    I can't really say, because...

     I understand what you're saying, but...
     Yes, I see, but....
     I agree to a certain extent, but...

Let's practice!

PART 1

I live near the university.

I can....

I speak.....

I like....

I want to....

I think that....

PART 2

Students should ....

Teachers should ....

Children should ...

Parents should ...

KGU should....

The English Department should....

Prime Minister Kan should...

President Obama should....

BEGINNING

When you start saying something

     First of all, I would like to say that.............
     To begin with, I...................

What can you say instead of "I think"

     I would say/think
     In my opinion
     To my point of view

When you want to stress your "personal opinion":

     Personally I think
     As far as I am concerned
     As for me

When you are "quite sure" of something:

     Of course!
     That goes without saying (It goes without saying that......)

When you want to "ask a question":

     May I interrupt you?
     Yes, but what about....?

When you "haven't understood":

    I beg your pardon. / Pardon?
    Could you repeat what you've just said? But slower, please.
    Could you slow down a bit?

When you want to clarify

  In other words, you're saying that....

When you want to say the "opposite" of what someone else

     said:
     On the contrary! 
     That is the very opposite of what I said.

When you want to "distinguish":

    on the one hand             on the other hand
    in general                      in particular
    at first sight                  on second thought

When you want to "add" something:

    Also,..........
    In addition,.................
    Moreover,..............
    Furthermore,................
    Finally,...................

When you want to "emphasize" something:

    I would like to lay (put) emphasis on the fact that..
    I would like to stress the fact that..
    I want to point out that................

When you want to "say the truth":

    To be frank (with you),...................
    Frankly (speaking),.........................
    To tell the truth,........................

If you should want to "correct a mistake":

    Excuse me, I think you should have said "....."
    I'm sorry, I made a mistake. I should have said....

To summarize

    In brief/short..........                               
    To be brief,..................
    To summarize our main points, ....