Disagreeing with people - Intermediate

Sometimes people give an opinion and you don't agree with it. We have many ways to show disagreement in English. Here are ten of them.

10 expressions to Use In Speaking And Writing: 
  1. I'm not sure about that!
  2. You could be right, but...
  3. (I'm afraid) I don't agree.
  4. I agree up to a point, but..
  5. That's an interesting idea, but..
  6. Do you really think..?
  7. Rubbish! / Nonsense!
  8. You can't be serious!
  9. Actually, as a matter of fact. I think..
  10. That's not how I see it.
How To Use These Phrases In Your English: 
  1. Phrases 1 and 2 are quite polite and not too direct in saying you disagree.
  2. Phrase 3 is neutral. We use 'I'm afraid' to soften it and make it less agressive to the other speaker.
  3. Phrases 4 and 5 are showing partial agreement with the other speaker but both are followed with the second speaker's (different) ideas.
  4. Phrase 6 is used to question how the other speaker could really think something that you think is completely wrong.
  5. Phrases 7 and 8 are saying that the other speaker is completely worng in a very direct, blunt way.
Intermediate

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