Giving Your Opinion — Easy English Conversation

Transcript

Introduction

A: Today we’re looking at something we all do — saying what we think, especially when the other person thinks something else.

B: You’ll get the phrase that sounds like disagreement and means the opposite, a few ways to disagree that keep the argument about the idea, and the sentences that end a conversation well.

A: Six of today’s fourteen phrases to listen for: If you ask me, to be honest, I couldn’t agree more, I see where you’re coming from, to agree to disagree, and Fair enough.

B: After that, six short situations as a quick review, so you can practice out loud.

A: You can practice today’s phrases in Recursio — link in the description.

Getting the conversation started

B: Let’s start with the question, because the question helps shape the kind of answer you get.

A: I usually just ask, “What do you think?”

B: Which is fine — we did “think of” and “think about” in the recent preposition episode. Today I want the other one: “How do you feel about the new office?”

A: What’s the difference?

B: “What do you think?” asks for an opinion. “How do you feel about it?” also asks for an opinion, but it often invites a more personal reaction.

A: So it points more toward feelings.

B: Right. Use it when you want to hear someone’s feelings or personal reaction. In many conversations, either question works.

A: Now my turn to answer. How do I start?

B: With a signal that this is your view, not an objective fact. One conversational option is “if you ask me.”

A: “If you ask me, it’s too expensive.”

B: Exactly. It marks the sentence as your view, and it’s informal.

A: Is there a catch?

B: A small one. “If you ask me” can sound a little emphatic, especially before criticism. Tone and context do the work.

A: And the neutral version?

B: “I’d say.” “I’d say it’s too expensive.” It’s a common, neutral way to soften an opinion or estimate.

A: That’s shorter than I expected.

B: You can put it before many opinions and estimates. It makes them sound less absolute, though the words after it can still be direct.

A: And when the opinion is a bit uncomfortable?

B: Then use “to be honest.” It signals a candid answer, often one that may be unwelcome: “To be honest, I didn’t like it.”

A: Does that mean I’m usually dishonest?

B: No. It emphasizes that you’re speaking honestly now; it doesn’t imply that you’re normally dishonest.

A: And in writing?

B: In messages, people may shorten it to the letters T-B-H. In speech, they usually say the whole phrase.

A: There’s one more opener I hear constantly.

B: There is, and we’re deliberately leaving it for tomorrow’s episode. “In my opinion” gets its own place there, next to the mistake people make instead of it.

A: Are there other ways to mark a sentence as mine?

B: Three worth having. “Personally, I think it’s too expensive.” “The way I see it, we can’t afford it.” And “as far as I’m concerned, the discussion is over.”

A: That last one sounds heavier.

B: It is. It’s just “in my view,” a bit weightier than “I’d say.” It often ends up in front of a firm sentence — “as far as I’m concerned, we’ve already decided” — but the firmness is in the second half, not the phrase.

A: And if I want to hear their reasons instead?

B: “What makes you say that?” It asks for the reasoning without arguing with the conclusion.

A: Is it neutral?

B: Mostly. Said flatly it’s curious; said sharply it can sound like a challenge. Tone again.

A: And the plain version?

B: “Why do you think that?” Slightly more direct, and straightforward in many situations — with the same rule about tone.

Agreeing, from warm to lukewarm

A: Now the easy half. Somebody says something I think is right.

B: And here’s the phrase that often surprises learners. “I couldn’t agree more.”

A: That sounds like disagreement to me.

B: It looks like it, and it’s the opposite. It means there is no more agreement available — you’re at the top. It’s about as strong as agreement gets.

A: So “I couldn’t agree more” is stronger than “I agree.”

B: Much stronger. And the mirror exists too: “I couldn’t care less” means you care nothing at all.

A: That’s a shape I’d never have worked out alone.

B: It isn’t obvious from the words, so treat these as fixed expressions. In “I couldn’t agree more” and “I couldn’t be happier,” “more” points to the high end. In “I couldn’t care less,” “less” points to zero. The pattern doesn’t work automatically with every verb, so learn each phrase as a whole.

A: Is there an American twist on that one?

B: There is. You’ll also hear Americans say “I could care less” with the same meaning as “I couldn’t care less.”

A: But that’s the opposite shape.

B: It looks illogical, and people often criticize it, but dictionaries record it as an informal variant. The safer form to use is “I couldn’t care less.”

A: And the ordinary agreement?

B: “I agree,” and we did that one in the common-mistakes episode — the one where people say “I’m agree.” Same fix: no “am.”

A: What about the short answers?

B: These are the ones you’ll reach for first. “Exactly.” “Absolutely.” “Same here.” And a slightly longer one, “I’m with you on that.”

A: All of them just mean yes?

B: Roughly. “Absolutely” is the enthusiastic one; “exactly” says you’d have said the same thing; “same here” says the same is true of you; “I’m with you on that” says you’re on their side of the argument.

A: And the full sentence?

B: “You’re absolutely right.” It’s a complete, emphatic way to agree, including when you’re acknowledging a point after a disagreement.

A: Now the half-agreement. Somebody is partly right.

B: Two phrases, and they do the most work here. “You have a point.”

A: Meaning I accept part of it.

B: You acknowledge that their argument is reasonable or worth considering, without saying you’ve changed your mind. “You have a point, but the price is still the problem.”

A: And the other one?

B: “That’s a good point.” You’ll also hear “that’s a fair point,” especially in British English.

A: What’s the difference?

B: Almost nothing. Both show that you see value in the other person’s argument. Neither phrase by itself tells us whether you now agree.

A: And they both do the same job.

B: Both let you acknowledge the other person’s idea before you add a different view.

A: Is that a trick?

B: No. Use them when you genuinely see something reasonable or useful in what the other person said.

A: What if I only half-agree and there’s no “but” coming?

B: Then stop at the half. “That’s a good point” can be a complete answer; you don’t have to follow it with “but.”

A: That feels unfinished.

B: It can be enough. You can acknowledge a useful point without adding a counterargument.

Disagreeing without a fight

A: Now the hard half. I think they’re wrong.

B: Then you need the sentence that separates understanding from agreeing. “I see where you’re coming from.”

A: What does it actually promise?

B: That you understand why they think it — their position, their reasons. It promises nothing about whether you agree.

A: So it’s not a yes.

B: It’s not a yes. It’s often used before “but” and a different opinion.

A: And then the disagreement itself?

B: “I see it differently.” Four words, and they say the whole thing without a single negative word.

A: No “no,” no “you’re wrong.”

B: None. It describes a difference in views without calling the other person wrong.

A: Is there a version with the word “disagree”?

B: “I disagree” is correct, and in a meeting it can land harder than you mean.

A: And when they’ve overstated it?

B: “I’m not sure I’d go that far.” It signals that their statement or conclusion seems too strong to you.

A: And when part of what they said is simply true?

B: Then you say so first. “That’s true, but the deadline hasn’t moved.”

A: The classic yes-and-no.

B: And it works because the first half is real. If you say “that’s true” about something you think is false, you’ll have to defend it a sentence later.

A: Any other shapes?

B: “I take your point, but…” is slightly more formal, and you’ll often hear it in meetings or structured discussions.

A: Is there a phrase for defending the other side?

B: “To be fair.” It introduces a point in somebody else’s favor, even when you’re arguing against them. “To be fair, she did warn us.”

A: So does it do the same job as “to be honest”?

B: No. “To be honest” signals a candid comment. “To be fair” introduces a point in somebody else’s favor.

A: And the soft doubt, when I’m not ready to state a firm disagreement?

B: “I don’t know about that.” It signals doubt without stating a position, and it gives them room to explain.

A: What about “with all due respect”?

B: It’s a formal, polite way of saying you disagree — “with all due respect, I don’t think that will work.”

A: So it’s safe to use?

B: It is designed for formal disagreement. Because it sounds formal and often introduces direct criticism, it can feel stiff or distancing in a relaxed conversation. Tone and context still matter.

A: What about interrupting to disagree?

B: We did “can I jump in” in the meetings episode. It works here too, and it’s a common way to enter the conversation.

When nobody is wrong

A: Sometimes we just want different things.

B: And English has a sentence for exactly that: “it’s a matter of taste.”

A: Meaning there’s no right answer.

B: The choice depends on personal preference, so there isn’t one objectively correct answer. Food, music, colors, movies — “you prefer the blue one; it’s a matter of taste.”

A: Give me the sentence in an argument.

B: “We’re not going to solve this — it’s a matter of taste.” It reminds both people that they’re discussing a preference, not a fact.

A: And “a matter of opinion”?

B: Close, and slightly different. Both mean there’s no fact that settles it. “A matter of taste” is for preferences — food, music, colors. “A matter of opinion” is for judgments — whether a movie is good, whether a plan makes sense.

A: That’s a fine line.

B: It is, and the expressions overlap. The distinction is still useful: one usually points to a preference, while the other points to a judgment you can give reasons for.

A: And when I genuinely have no view?

B: Then say so. “I’m on the fence” — undecided, leaning neither way. “I could go either way” — both options are fine with me.

A: And the polite handover?

B: “It’s up to you,” or “either way is fine with me.” Both hand the decision over without pretending to have an opinion.

A: Is there a risk in those?

B: One. Use “it’s up to you” only when you’re genuinely willing to let the other person choose.

A: And when somebody does convince me?

B: The phrase is “to change my mind.” “You’ve changed my mind.” “I’ve changed my mind about the blue one.”

A: It’s “mind,” not “opinion”?

B: “Change my opinion” is possible, but “change my mind” is the everyday one — that’s the version to learn.

A: And saying it out loud?

B: “You’ve changed my mind” is a clear way to acknowledge that their argument convinced you.

A: Is there a version for a small change?

B: “You’ve got me thinking.” Use it when you’re not convinced yet, but you’re now considering the idea more seriously.

A: And if I’ve changed my mind about a plan, not an idea?

B: Same phrase, and it covers decisions too: “I’ve changed my mind. I’ll have the fish.” Nothing to do with an argument — you just decided differently.

Ending it well

A: Last part. The conversation is going nowhere.

B: Then you need the exit, and there are two. The first is “to agree to disagree” — in practice, “let’s agree to disagree.”

A: Meaning we stop.

B: Both people accept that they have different opinions and stop trying to persuade each other.

A: Is it always friendly?

B: Not always. Said sharply, it can mean “this discussion is over.” Said warmly, it can be a calm way to stop. The words are the same; the tone changes the effect.

A: How do I make it warm?

B: Put something before it: “I think we’re just going to see this differently — let’s agree to disagree.” The first half makes your intention clearer.

A: And the second exit?

B: “Fair enough.” Two words that say the other person’s reason, decision or point seems reasonable. You may still have a different opinion.

A: How is that different from agreeing?

B: “I agree” says you think the same. “Fair enough” says you accept what they said as reasonable. It often helps the conversation move on. It’s very common in British English, and Americans use it too.

A: Give me a situation.

B: Somebody says, “I can’t come, I’m working.” You say, “Fair enough.” You’re accepting the reason as reasonable; no shared opinion is required.

A: Does it work after a disagreement?

B: Yes. After the other person explains their position, “fair enough” can show that you accept their reasoning as reasonable.

A: So it can close the subject.

B: It can. It can also introduce a counterpoint: “Fair enough, but we still need a decision today.”

A: Are there other ways to close?

B: Two more. “Point taken” — that’s the short form of “I take your point” from earlier. It says you’ve heard the argument and accepted it. “Let’s leave it there” directly suggests stopping; depending on your tone, it can sound warm or firm.

A: And the non-committal one?

B: “We’ll see.” It means the answer is being left for later, and in some situations it can be a gentle no.

A: A gentle no?

B: It isn’t a promise. The real answer depends on what happens next.

A: Good to know before I count on it.

B: It’s worth hearing accurately, because a postponed answer and an agreement are not the same thing.

Practice and quick review

A: Six short situations. You’ll hear the situation, you answer in the gap, and then I’ll say mine.

B: Ready. You think the new office is too expensive, and your team is already over budget. What question asks for your colleague’s personal reaction, and what two opinion openers introduce your view?

A: How do you feel about the new office? If you ask me, it’s too expensive. I’d say we’re already over our budget.

B: The more personal question, an opener that marks the sentence as yours, and two words that make the final opinion less absolute.

A: Next.

B: Your colleague says exactly what you were thinking. How do you agree as strongly as English lets you, using the phrase that looks like a negative?

A: I couldn’t agree more.

B: It looks like a negative and means the maximum: there’s no more agreement available.

A: Next.

B: She argues that the office is fine. What two half-agreements can you use, and how do you put your objection after each one?

A: You have a point, but the price is still the problem. That’s true, but the deadline hasn’t moved.

B: Both answers acknowledge something before the disagreement: a reasonable point first, then a true fact.

A: Next.

B: You understand exactly why she thinks that, and you still think something else. What one sentence says both things without any negative words?

A: I see where you’re coming from, but I see it differently.

B: You show understanding without saying you agree, then state your different view.

A: Next.

B: You’d rather not say it, but you didn’t like the design. Then she gives you a good reason and changes your mind. What three sentences do you use?

A: To be honest, I didn’t like the design. That’s a good point. Actually, you’ve changed my mind.

B: A candid opening, an acknowledgment of her point, and a clear change of mind.

A: Last one.

B: You and a friend disagree about which color is nicer, you decide to stop, and then she says she has to go because she’s working. What three sentences fit this situation?

A: It’s a matter of taste. Let’s agree to disagree. Fair enough.

B: A personal preference, an agreement to stop persuading, and accepting her reason as reasonable.

Outro

A: Today’s fourteen: How do you feel about…?, If you ask me, I’d say, to be honest, I couldn’t agree more, You have a point, That’s a good point, I see where you’re coming from, I see it differently, That’s true, but…, It’s a matter of taste, to change my mind, to agree to disagree, and Fair enough.

B: Fourteen phrases, and together they let you say what you think without making the disagreement about the other person.

A: Open the link below and practice them in Recursio.

B: See you in the next one.