Agreeing and Disagreeing

Giving opinions and discussing likes and dislikes

What do you think?

I think Italian food is fantastic!!

Choose and practice the answer to give your opinion

Yes, you are right. Isn't it a little difficult to prepare? Yes, It s marvelous. I don't really agree with you. Do you? Especially pizzas.

Agree or Disagree with the following topics

Give your opinion to each of the situations. Do you agree or disagree?

Example: A: Cold in here, isnit? B: Is it? I really think it's too hot.

Answers Yes, you are right

I don't really agree with you. I think

1. 2.

3. 4. 5.

I think we should /ud/ cancel the whole project right now. I think we should move production to a country where labor costs are cheaper. My Volkswagen is very reliable. /rilaiabl/ This wine is very good. I think SuperAudit should audit /odit/ our accounts next year.

Do you? I think Is it? I think

Listen and watch

http://abcasiapacific.com/businessenglish/ stories/s1465486.htm

Giving an opinion of agreement or disagreement.

Example: A: How do you feel about the stray dogs of Valparaiso? B: Well, if you ask me, the stray dogs are a big problem. A: Why do you think that? B: They are malnourished, hungry, sick, and so sad. A: Thats a good point.

Make up conversations
Example: Giving opinions A: How do you feel about the stray If you ask me dogs of Valparaiso? B: Well, if you ask me, the stray dogs Dont you agree that? are a big problem. You know what I think? A: Why do you think that? that B: They are malnourished, hungry, sick, and so sad. A: Thats a good point.

I think

Talk about
Stray dogs Capital punishment Marriage Gambling Violence on TV and in movies Any other topic

Agreement Exactly. I couldnt agree more. Thats exactly what I think. Thats a good point. Disagreement Im not sure if I agree. Maybe, but dont you think that..?

Agreeing or disagreeing
Example: A: Dont you agree that learning English is pointless! (1) B: Im not sure if I agree I think its probably a good thing to do. A: Why do you say that? B: Well, because English is a world language you need it to communicate with people from other countries. A: Thats a good point.

Agreeing and Disagreeing

A: B:

A: B:
A:

Example: Dont you agree that learning English is pointless! (1) Im not sure if I agree I think its probably a good thing to do. Why do you say that? Well, because English is a world language you need it to communicate with people from other countries. Thats a good point.

Giving opinions If you ask me Dont you agree that? You know what I think? I think that

Talk about: (1) Learning English is pointless. Marriage is out of date. This university is the best one in Chile. The Simpsons is the most intelligent show on TV today

Agreement Exactly. I couldnt agree more. Thats exactly what I think. Thats a good point. I think so, too

Disagreement Im not sure if I agree. Maybe, but dont you think that..? I wouldnt say that.

Find the mistakes

One is correct, but the others have mistakes 1 That's interesting, but I'm not sure if I am agree. 2 I think you might have right. 3 Exactly. Now, are you all agree? 4 I think you are right. 5 I'm not sure I disagree. 6 OK. Do we all agreed now? 7 I don't entirely agree

Right answers
1 2 3 4 5 6 That's interesting, but I'm not sure if I agree. I think you might be right. Exactly. Now, Do you all agree? I think you are right. I'm not sure If I agree. OK. Do we all agree now?

7 I m not entirely agree

Television Plays a Positive Role in Society

Issue:

Expressions Well, from my point of view Dont you think that? What about you? Whats your reaction to that? Would you like to add anything? In spite of this, For instance As a matter of fact Even so Whats more
Pro : Well, from my point of view television is now playing a very important role in our lives.

Because of this To put it simply Unless we, we wont That sounds like a good idea, but Im not really sure If you ask me Dont you agree that? You know what I think? I think that Im not sure if I agree. Maybe, but dont you think that..?

Con: Dont you think that television is a great time waster.

Activity:

Pick up one argument from the pile. Decide if it is an con or pro argument. Move to the con or pro corner. Share your argument with your partners. Complete your arguments with a possible expression of agreement or disagrement. Share your arguments with the class.

Part 1: With Your Partner, Think of at Least One Strong Reason for Each Resolution

1. Women should quit their job after they get married. REASON:
2. Love is more important than money. REASON: 3. It is better to be married than single. REASON:

4. Writing by hand is better than writing by computer. REASON:

Part 2: Now Compare Your Reasons with Another Pair and Decide Whose Reasons are Stronger and Why

Ways to State Reasons:

. Comparison: X is _____ er than Y. OR: X is more _____ than Y.

Cause-and-effect: X causes Y. OR: If you do X, then Y will happen.

AHow to Agree Strongly with an Opinion.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

B. How to Half Agree with an Opinion.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

8.
9. 10. 11.

I couldn't agree more! That's absolutely true! Absolutely! I agree with your point. I'd go along with you there. I'm with you on that. That's just what I was thinking. That's exactly what I think. That's a good point. That's just how I see it. That's exactly my opinion.

8.
9. 10.

Yes, perhaps, however ... Well, yes, but ... Yes, in a way, however ... Hmm, possibly, but ... Yes, I agree up to a point, however ... Well, you have a point there, but ... There's something there, I suppose, however. I guess you could be right, but ... Yes, I suppose so, however ... That's worth thinking about, but ...

C. How to Disagree Politely with an Opinion.

1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

D. How to Disagree Strongly with an Opinion.

1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

I am not so sure. Do you think so? Well, it depends. I'm not so certain. Well, I don't know. Well, I'm not so sure about that. Hmm, I'm not sure you're right. I'm inclined to disagree with that. No, I don't think so.

I disagree. I disagree with your idea. I'm afraid I don't agree. I'm afraid your idea is wrong. I can't agree with you. I couldn't accept that for a minute. You can't actually mean that. I wouldn't go along with you there. You can't be serious about that. You must be joking. It's possible you are mistaken about that.

MINI DEBATE With your partner,

One of you will be the pro-side and one the con-side, The pro-side is responsible for introducing the topic. The topic will be: Ex " a tree is more important than a car

Then the pro-side has one minute to make arguments for his/her side.
The con-side has one minute to make arguments for his/her side.

The students in the class have to decide if they agree or disagree with the debaters and get together for arguments.

A Tree is More Important than a Car

I AGREE

I DISAGREE

TREES are more important:

CARS are more important:

Trees are good for the environment Cars pollute the environment Trees prevent erosion. Trees are beautiful.

Cars are necessary for transportation. Cars contribute to business development and commerce.

Ex " a tree is more important than a car"

Disagree

Agree

I'm afraid I'm not convinced. I don't entirely agree. I'm not sure about that. I can't agree with you there. I don't think that's quite correct.

I agree In that case, I agree. I'll go along with you. I couldn't agree more. That's right. I concur. Absolutely!

So do I / Neither do I / etc

Im very interested in archaeology. I cant stand waiting in airports. My friends and I play tennis a lot. Ill be going to the south of Chile in Dec. I dont believe in politicians.

So am I.
Neither can I. So do we. So will I. Neither do I.

To agree with a positive statement:

We use so + auxiliary\modal verb + pronoun: "I like tea without sugar.' 'So do I.' To agree with a positive statement: We use nor/neither + auxiliary\modal verb + pronoun: "I don't like tea with sugar.' 'Nor do I.' or 'Neither do I.' To disagree with a positive statement: We use pronoun + auxiliary\modal verb + not (-n't): "I like tea without sugar.' 'I don't.' To disagree with a negative statement: We use pronoun + auxiliary\modal verb: "I don't like tea with sugar.' 'I do.

S0 / NEITHER
Example: Im tired. So am I. I didnt like Jurassic Park. I cant stand people who are rude. I should really exercise more. Ive never been to Fiji. I like going to the movies. I usually go on vacation somewhere in the summer.

Preliminary practice Agreeing Exercise 1 Student 1 : I like spaghetti. Student 2: So do I. I don't like snakes. Student 3: Nor do I. I like playing tennis. Student 4 : ? Exercise 2 Student 1 : I've been to Rio. Student 2: So have I. I have never done karate Student 3: Nor have I. I have canoed in a river. Student 4: ?

Homework

1.

Practice the dialogs and choose one topic for discussion in class, or get another topic of your interest. Choose another topic from slides 8 and 9 make up a conversation with your partner and voice record the dialog. Send the recording to the teacher by mail.

2.

Tom: Well, Ken, if you ask me, theres too much violence on television. Ken: Im not sure if I agree with you. Ive never read anything about that. Tom: Ken, its common sense. The point is, if you keep seeing shootings and muggings, you wont care if it happens on your street. Mary: I think thats interesting butIve never met anyone who is apathetic about violence. Tom: Oh, Im sorry, I dont see what you mean. Would you mind explaining that point Mary: Let me put it another way, Tom. The people on my street theyre not influenced by what happens on TV. Sue: Oh, but people may care about violence on their street, but not about violence in general. Ken: Wouldnt you say that TV is just a passive way of letting off steam? Sue: Oh, Ken, thats exactly what I mean! People watching violence to cool off proves my point they get used to violence! Mary: I think thats a good point, Sue. I mean, Ken, dont you see what shes saying? Sue: Yes! Theres got to be a better way to cool off! Mary: I agree. Ken: So do I. Anyway, I dont like TV very much. Sue: (laughs) Neither do I! Its boring. Mary: Thats true! Why argue about it?

In your dialogue, be sure to include this language: Well, from my point of view Dont you think that? What about you? Whats your reaction to that? Would you like to add anything? In spite of this, For instance As a matter of fact Even so

Whats more Because of this To put it simply Unless we, we wont That sounds like a good idea, but Im not really sure If you ask me Dont you agree that? You know what I think? I think that Im not sure if I agree. Maybe, but dont you think that..?