[Unit 1][1D] Agreeing and disagreeing

Question 1

[disageement] That s_ isn’t true. [an intensifying adverb]

Answer 1

[disageement] That simply isn’t true. [an intensifying adverb]

Question 2

[formal register] The world is made _ly more fascinating by having a variety of cultures.

Answer 2

The world is made infinitely more fascinating by having a variety of cultures.

Question 3

The world is made infinitely more fascinating by having a variety of cultures.

[reformulate ‘infinitely’ in an informal way]

Answer 3

The world is made way more fascinating by having a variety of cultures.

or ‘a lot more fascinating’

Question 4

[formal register] I agree up to a point that there’s benefit to _ _ from a shared global language

Answer 4

[formal register] I agree up to a point that there’s benefit to be had from a shared global language

Question 5

[disagreement] as far as I’m concerned, there’s _ _ English is taking over my life

Answer 5

[disagreement] as far as I’m concerned, there’s no way English is taking over my life

there’s no way + sentence (‘a clause’)

Question 6

[uncertainty] I’m _ two m_ _ hiring him.

Answer 6

I’m in two minds about hiring him.

Question 7

[uncertainty] I’ve got _ feelings about this/that.

Answer 7

I’ve got mixed feelings about this/that.

Question 8

[agreement] You _ nail _ _ h_ when you advised me against traveling to Haiti.

Answer 8

You hit the nail on the head when you advised me against traveling to Haiti.

Question 9

[agreement] I would go _ _ that.

Answer 9

[agreement] I would go along with that.

Question 10

[agreement] You’re s_ _.

Answer 10

You’re spot on.

Question 11

[partial agreement] I agree with you _ _ _ point, but we have to be practical.

Answer 11

I agree with you up to a point, but we have to be practical.

Question 12

[partial agreement] What you said is correct, up _ _ p_.

Answer 12

[partial agreement] What you said is correct, up to a point.

Question 13

[disagreement] If you think I’m being cheap, you’re m_ _ point. Every time we go out, I pay for everything.

Answer 13

If you think I’m being cheap, you’re missing the point. Every time we go out, I pay for everything.

Question 14

[disagreement] These measures are rather m_ the point [= address the wrong issue, and so they won’t be effective]

Answer 14

These measures are rather missing the point

Question 15

What strategy can you use to soften this expression?

That doesn’t make sense __.

Answer 15

That doesn’t make sense to me.

Question 16

What strategies can you use to soften this expression?

I don’t agree with you.

Answer 16

1. use modal verbs: I can’t agree / I wouldn’t agree.
2. depersonalize: I don’t agree [without ‘with you’] or ‘I don’t agree with this’
3. limit by adding ‘here’ or ‘there’: I can’t agree with you there.

Question 17

What strategies can you use to soften this expression?

You’re missing the whole point.

Answer 17

1. Make the expression more subjective by add a ‘me’ statement: I feel like you’re missing the whole point.
2. Make the expression more subjective by replacing ‘are’ with ‘seem to be’: You seem to be missing the whole point.
3. add ‘here’ or ‘there’: You’re missing the whole point here.

Question 18

[Partial disagreement] To disagree, they often say ‘Yes, but…’

What expressions can you use instead of ‘Yes’?

Answer 18

Some examples:

You’ve got a point, but…

It’s true that … but ….

I see what you mean … but..

Question 19

[Partial disagreement] I see what you mean, but I _ feel that we can try harder. [a strategy to intensify what you’re saying.]

Answer 19

..but on the other hand, I do feel that we can try harder.…

use do to intensify the ‘mental’ verbs: I do feel / I do believe / I do understand …