Advanced· C1Social & small talk12 min

Disagreeing politely in a discussion

Share a different opinion respectfully, support it with reasons and find common ground.

The scene

Over dinner with friends, the conversation turns to whether people should work from home or in the office. A friend has a strong opinion that you do not share.

Speaker A
Friend
Speaker B
You

Your goals

  • Acknowledge the other person's point before disagreeing
  • Support your opinion with reasons and examples
  • Find common ground to keep the discussion friendly

Key vocabulary

Press the speaker to hear each word or phrase.

  • to see someone's point

    to understand someone's argument

    I see your point, but…

  • to a certain extent

    partly but not completely

    I agree to a certain extent.

  • productive

    getting a lot done

    I'm more productive at home.

  • to have a point

    to have a good argument

    You have a point about isolation.

  • on the other hand

    used to introduce an opposite idea

    On the other hand, commuting takes hours.

  • middle ground

    a position between two extremes

    Maybe a hybrid model is the middle ground.

  • to depend on

    to be decided by something else

    I think it depends on the job.

  • to come across as

    to seem to other people

    I don't want to come across as rude.

Useful phrases

  • I see what you mean, but …

    Acknowledging before disagreeing

  • I'm not sure I agree with that.

    Softening a disagreement

  • That's true to a certain extent, but …

    Partly agreeing

  • The way I see it, …

    Giving your opinion

  • You have a point about …

    Accepting part of their argument

  • Maybe we can agree that …

    Finding common ground

Practice studio: speak the dialogue

Pick your role and press Start. Your partner's lines are read aloud; then say your line into the microphone (or type it) and see which words you got right.

Your role

  1. Friend

    Honestly, I think working from home is bad for everyone. People are just less productive.

  2. You

    I see what you mean, but I'm not sure I agree. Some studies suggest many people actually get more done at home.

  3. Friend

    Really? I find it so easy to get distracted at home.

  4. You

    That's true to a certain extent, but it depends on the person. I focus better without office noise.

  5. Friend

    But what about teamwork? You can't build a team over video calls.

  6. You

    You have a point about teamwork. Meeting in person helps people trust each other.

  7. Friend

    Exactly. New employees especially need to learn from others.

  8. You

    That's a fair point. On the other hand, a long commute every day can leave people exhausted.

  9. Friend

    So what's your ideal solution, then?

  10. You

    The way I see it, a hybrid model is the middle ground. Maybe we can agree that one size doesn't fit all.

You speak 5 lines as You; Friend is read aloud for you.

Speech recognition is done by your browser (in Chrome and Edge this uses the browser maker's online service). Nothing is stored by AltFTool.

Your turn: speak freely

Answer out loud in your own words. There is no score here: aim for full sentences and fewer filler words.

  1. 1. Give your opinion on remote work and support it with two reasons.

  2. 2. Your friend says, 'Social media is ruining society.' Disagree politely.

  3. 3. Find common ground with someone whose opinion is very different from yours.

Quick quiz

Choose an answer to see if you are right and why.

  1. 1. Which phrase disagrees most politely?
  2. 2. What does 'to a certain extent' mean?
  3. 3. What is 'middle ground'?
  4. 4. Why say 'You have a point about…'?

0 of 4 answered

Common mistakes

  • Avoid: I am not agree.

    Say: I don't agree. / I disagree.

    'Agree' is a verb, so make it negative with 'don't'.

  • Avoid: According to me, …

    Say: In my opinion, … / The way I see it, …

    'According to me' sounds unnatural; use 'according to' for other sources.

  • Avoid: You are totally wrong about this.

    Say: I see it a bit differently.

    Strong direct words can sound aggressive in English.

Tips

  • Acknowledge, then disagree, then give a reason: this pattern keeps conversations friendly.
  • Use softeners like 'I'm not sure', 'maybe' and 'a bit' to sound less direct.
  • Look for one point you can agree on before the discussion ends.

Questions about this lesson

How do you disagree politely in English?

Start with 'I see what you mean, but…' or 'That's true to a certain extent, but…' Then give your reason calmly.

Is 'according to me' correct English?

It is understood but sounds unnatural. Say 'In my opinion', 'I think' or 'The way I see it' instead.

What does 'one size doesn't fit all' mean?

It means one solution will not work for every person or situation.

Finish the lesson

Finish the practice studio and the quiz and this lesson is marked complete for you.

Next lesson: Asking a teacher for help

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