S3 Useful Expressions

Starting a discussion The four-step approach Greet others and start the discussion Define the topic State your first point Ask for opinions Starting a discussion

Expressing an opinion/a point of view I think … My opinion is that … I’m of the opinion that …(formal!) I feel that … I believe that … In my view/opinion, …(formal!) To my mind, …(formal!) It’s my view that … From my point of view …(formal!) Personally speaking, …(formal!) I have a point to make. Expressing an opinion/a point of view

Asking for someone’s opinion What do you think about …? Do you think that … What’s your opinion of/about …? What’s your idea/ opinion? How do you feel about …? Do you have any views on/about … What’s your viewpoint about … What’s your point of view? In your opinion, …? Asking for someone’s opinion

Inviting Suggestions Do you think that’s a good idea? Are there any (other) suggestions? What else should we do? What would you suggest/recommend? What’s your suggestion/opinion? Inviting Suggestions

Making Suggestions How/ What about (verb + ing) …? I have a suggestion: shall/can we …? I suggest/recommend/think (that) … If I were you/in that situation, I would … Let’s (see/buy/go) … Perhaps we should/ought to … Why don’t we …? Making Suggestions

Giving reasons I say this/that … because of/due to/owing to (reason) I have reasons for saying that: First, … My reason(s) is/are … Giving reasons

Giving examples and details for example/for instance/such as/like … An example (of what I’ve said) is … Here’s an example. Let me explain/elaborate/clarify (my point/what I’ve said). Giving examples and details

Agreeing with someone Mild I suppose so/you’re right. In a way, you’re right. That’s a fair point (to make). To a certain extent, I agree (with you). You could say so.

Agreeing with someone Normal I agree (with you). I think so too. I feel the same too. I support your view. That’s a good suggestion. Yes, you’re right. Agreeing with someone Normal

Agreeing with someone Strong Absolutely!/Exactly!/Indeed! I agree with you entirely. I couldn’t agree (with you) more. I see eye to eye with you (on this point). I’m strongly in favour of this. That’s just/exactly the point. Agreeing with someone Strong

Disagreeing with someone Mild Disagreement with uncertainty and doubt I don’t know about that. Won’t that cause problems when … I’m not so sure about that. I think … You may be right, but I still feel that …   Disagreeing with someone Mild

Disagreeing with someone Normal Disagreement with a reason I don’t think so/agree. I think … I’m sorry/ I’m afraid I disagree (with you), because … I’m afraid that idea is not correct/suitable/relevant.   Disagreeing with someone Normal

Disagreeing with someone Strong Disagreement with specific opposition I totally disagree with this (idea/suggestion). That argument doesn’t hold good in this case. This won’t work because/unless …   Disagreeing with someone Strong

Offering an alternative Another approach to that is … Have you also considered that …? I think otherwise/quite the opposite. Instead of …, I would (try) … On the other hand/On the contrary, I believe that … Will/Wouldn’t it be better to (look at it from another angle) …? Offering an alternative

I think we must weigh the advantages against the disadvantages. In spite of/ Despite (this) …, there are some drawbacks/disadvantages. Let’s look at the other side of the coin/not forget the disadvantages. Let’s consider the pros and cons of … What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of … Weighing Pros and Cons

After weighing the pros and cons, I suppose/think … Although … has an advantage, it does not meet our requirements/criteria. Comparing the two, I like this idea better. Considering all the advantages/points/factors/suggestions, I support/believe … I’d prefer/ I would rather/ I’m in favour of/I’d choose … It’s not an easy choice. But I’d prefer … If you ask me to choose, I would … Emphasising a point

Say you don’t understand ! You’ve got the right to do so!

Asking for repetition Excuse me, but did you just say that …? I don’t quite understand. Could you repeat (that/what you’ve just said), please? I’m afraid I didn’t catch your point. Can you say that again? I’m not sure what you mean. Can you say that again? Pardon/I beg your pardon? What did you say? Asking for repetition

Asking for explanation and clarification Can you elaborate (on) that? Can you give an example?/Such as/For instance? What do you mean by …? Why do you think so/that? Asking for explanation and clarification

Clarifying an idea I just said (that)/ What I just said was … I was saying … Let me repeat/Let me say that again. Let me put it in another way. What I mean is … Correcting yourself I’m afraid I have to take back what I just said Sorry, let me correct myself. I mean … Sorry, I didn’t mean that. Actually, I meant … What I actually want to say is … Clarifying an idea

Finding the missing words Asking others for a missing word … I’m not sure how to say it in English. Do you know what it is called? Do you know the word for …? You know (explanation) … What is it called Using words with similar meanings as substitutes (explanation) … you know what I mean? I’m not sure how to say it in English … I mean … I forgot its name in English. What I mean is … Finding the missing words

Expressing doubts/hesitation Hesitating effectively Actually … How should I put it? It seems to me that … I haven’t thought of that before. I mean … Let me think … Right … That’s an interesting question. This is a difficult question. You see … Expressing doubts/hesitation

Encouraging someone to speak Asking for ideas (Are there) any other suggestions? Can you think of (anything else) …? How does that sound to you? You have been a bit quiet. What are your views (on that)? What do you think (of that)? Asking for agreement or preference with hints Do you agree? How/What about …? Which one do you think is better? …or …? Giving encouragement I like your idea. That’s a good idea. You’re right/That’s true. Encouraging someone to speak

Interrupting Polite interruption and keeping the discussion on track I’m sorry, Excuse me, Sorry to interrupt, but can we get back to our topic? I think we’re getting off track. Let’s return to our topic. I’m afraid this is irrelevant to our topic/out of focus. but let’s not get too far off the topic … but we should be talking about …   Interrupting

Moving on to the next point   Well, Okay, I don’t think there’s anything more to say on this point. I think we’ve covered that point. Let’s move on. I think there’s nothing more for this point. The next point is … let’s move on to … shall we move on to the next point/subtopic? Moving on to the next point

Summarising and reaching an agreement

Technique 1 Seeking agreement If no one wants to add anything, let’s sum up our discussion/decisions. Let’s conclude what we have discussed so far. Shall I sum up? We may say that … We all agree that … We have decided to … We have mentioned that … Technique 1 Seeking agreement

Technique 2 Directly going into the summary In short, we may say that … we all agree that … we have decided to … we have mentioned that … To sum (everything) up, The conclusion/In conclusion, …  

Technique 3 Offering a partial agreement or concession Both of you are quite right. I admit/suppose you are right … What you said could be true/possible. Let’s combine the two suggestions. How about …? I think we can (improve the plan by) …

Technique 4 Postponing making a decision Both are good suggestions. I think both arguments are sound. It’s a difficult problem. I don’t think we should make a hasty decision.   Time is running short. Why don’t we think about it and decide it later? Let’s keep this in mind and we’ll decide it later. Let’s take some time to think about it/consider the alternatives (and we can discuss it later). Shall we discuss it further later? Let’s move on to … Technique 4 Postponing making a decision

Ending a discussion So, Well, Okay,   So, Well, Okay, I don’t think there’s anything more to say. Let’s finish the meeting. I think we’ve covered all the items on the agenda/everything. is there any other business? …If not, let’s call it a day. let’s call it a day. that’s the end of our discussion. Ending a discussion