useful expression

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS FOR
DISCUSSIONS
FORMAL STANDARD INFORMAL
Asking for someone’s opinion
- Do you have any opinion on ?
- Do you have any particular
views on ?
- Could I know your reaction to ?
- What is your reaction to ?
- Would you agree that ?
- How/What do you feel about ?
- What are your views on ?
- What do you think of/about ?
- What are your feelings about ?
- What’s your opinion on/about ?

- What d’you reckon ?
- What about ?
- How d’you see ?

Giving your opinion
- As far as I’m concerned
- The point I want to make is
- I’m convinced that
- I’m of the opinion/view that
- It’s my opinion/view
/feeling/belief that
- I hold the view that
- It’s quite clear to me that
- As I see it
- In my opinion/view

- (Personally) I believe/feel/think
that
- It seems to me that
- I’d just like to say that
- My view is that
- The way I see it
- To my mind
- From where I stand
- If you ask me
- I reckon
- I guess
- What I mean is
Saying you have no opinion
- It is not something I have
considered a great deal, I’m
afraid.
- I can’t say I hold any particular
views on the subject.
- I don’t hold any particular
position on the matter.
- I really couldn’t say, I’m afraid.
- I really don’t know what to
say/think about
- I have no strong feelings about
- (To tell you the truth), I’m not
really interested in
- Your guess is as good as mine.
- I don’t know.
- It makes no odds to me.

Avoiding giving an opinion
- I don’t feel strongly either way
(in actual fact).
- I’m afraid I can’t comment on
- I don’t have anything to say on
- I’d rather not commit myself
on
- I’m not in a position to say
- I’d rather not say anything
about
- It’s difficult to say.
- I’d have to think about it.
- No comment, I’m afraid.
- Do you think so?
- It’s difficult to give an opinion
- Well, I don’t know really
- Well, now you’re asking
- Perhaps.
- Could be.
- Can’t say, really.
- It/That all depends.
- Who cares?
anything about
- I suppose it depends on your
point of view.
at the moment.

Trying to change someone’s
opinion
- But seen from another angle,

one might say
- But if we look at it in another
light
- Of course, an alternative view /
opinion would be that
- But there are other
considerations. For example
- Yes, but if we look at the whole
picture
- (Yes but) do you really think ?
- (Yes but) surely you don’t
think/believe
- On the other hand
- (Yes but) isn’t it possible that ?
- Another way of looking at it
would be (to say) that
- Hold on…
- No, but look…
- Well, think of it this way…
- But look at it like this…
- You don’t really think….?
- You can’t mean that, surely.
Transition
- As far as…. is concerned,…
- To turn to…
- Having said that…
- To move on to… - Mind you
- Now
- Anyway
Asking if someone agrees

- Would you agree that/with…?
- I wonder if you would agree.
- Would you concur with such a
proposal/suggestion?
- Wouldn’t you say so?
- You’d agree with…wouldn’t
you?
- Don’t you think so?
- Right?
- Yeah?
- OK?
- All right with you?
Agreeing
- I couldn’t agree more.
- I agree entirely.
- My own view/opinion.
- Absolutely / Precisely.
- I don’t think anyone could
disagree with…
- I take your point.
- Indeed.
- I can’t help thinking the same.
- That’s quite right / true.
- Exactly / Definitely.
- I absolutely agree.
- That’s just what I think.
- You’ve got a point there.
- I’d go along with you there/with
that.
- Well, that’s the thing.

- This/that’s it.
- (Dead) Right.
- Too true.
- I’m with you there.
- Quite.
- I take your point.
- Sure.
Disagreeing
- With all due respect, I’d say
that…
- Well, as a matter of fact I think
- I’m not at all sure, actually / in
- Oh, surely not!
- I don’t see why.
- I’m afraid I entirely disagree.
- I’m afraid I can’t accept that.
- I can’t say that I share that view.
- I’m not at all entirely convinced
that…
- I see things rather differently
myself.
- Well, actually, I’m not sure I
agree with that.
fact.
- I disagree (entirely)
- I can’t agree with…
- I can’t help thinking …
- That’s not quite the way I see it.
- I don’t think that’s right.
- But isn’t it more a

matter/question of…?
- You’ve missed the point
completely.
- I can’t go along with that.
- Oh come off it!
- You can’t mean that.
- You can’t be serious.
- You (must be) joking.
- That’s complete rubbish.
- Come on!

Saying you partly agree
- Well, while I agree with you on
the whole…
- There’s some/a lot of truth in
what you say, however/still…
- I agree in principle but…
- I take/see your point but
- Personally, I wouldn’t go so far
as to say that.
- In spite of what you say, I think
perhaps…

- I see what you mean but…
- To a certain extent, yes but…
- I see what you’re getting at
but…
- That’s all very well, but…
- That’s one way of looking at it
but…

- Yes but on the other hand…
- I agree up to a point.
- Could be but
- Ok but…
- Maybe
- Perhaps
Saying you have reached an
agreement
- We seem to be in complete
agreement.
- That seems to be agreed.
- (Good) That’s agreed then.
- Well, that’s settled, isn’t it?
- So we’re agreed then.
- That’s it/that then.
- Looks like… is Ok/taken care of
- Everyone’s happy about… then.
Interrupting
- I’d just like to add something, if
I may.
- Could I make a point there?
- Before you go on, let me say…
- Sorry to interrupt but…
- Excuse me can I butt in there?
- (Hang on) just a moment.
- Now listen to me
- Sorry but…
Dealing with interruptions
- I’m sorry but could you (just) let
me finish?

- If I could just finish?
- Please let me finish.
- What I was saying was…
- Sorry I was just saying.
- No,wait.