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1 Formality in spoken and 2 Agreeing
written English
2 Agreeing 2.1 in everyday English
3 Disagreeing
you’re right/that’s right etc
4 Apologizing
5 Opinions used when you agree with what someone says:
6 Requests ‘It’s too far to walk.’ ‘You’re right. Let’s get a taxi.’
7 Suggestions ‘This food was grown without any artificial fertilizers.’ ‘That’s right, it’s completely organic.’
He is right when he says that the world economy is facing its most serious challenge in half a century.
8 Hello
9 Goodbye I agree
10 Thank you
this sounds a little more serious and more formal than saying you’re right:
‘All this packaging is unnecessary. It’s bad for the environment.’ ‘I agree.’
I agree that there is no such thing as a bad dog, only a bad owner.
I agree with Professor Murphy’s analysis of the situation.
ⓘ Don’t say ‘agree someone’s opinion’ or ‘agree to someone’s opinion’. Say agree with
someone’s opinion.

I know

used in spoken English when you have the same feeling or have had the same experience as
someone:
‘It’s really hot today.’ ‘I know – I wish I hadn’t worn my sweater.’
ⓘ This phrase is very commonly used in everyday conversation, when sympathizing and agreeing
with the other person.

2.2 in formal English

share sb’s view/concern/fear etc

to have the same opinion, concern, fear etc as someone else:


I share her concerns about the lack of women in high academic positions.
There are many people who would share this view.

be of the same opinion/view

to agree with someone:


Oppenheimer and many of the world’s leading scientists were of the same view.
Are we all of the same opinion (=said in a formal meeting)?
ⓘ This phrase is used especially when saying that a group of people agree about something.

subscribe to a view/theory etc

to agree with an opinion, idea etc and believe that it is right:


Some people think that we should abandon farm subsidies, but I, for one, do not subscribe to this
view.
Today, the majority of scientists subscribe to the so-called ‘big bang’ theory of the origins of the
universe.

concur with sb/sth

to agree with someone. This is a very formal use.


I concur with the previous speaker on both points.
There are many educators who would concur with her opinion.
sb makes a good/valid point

used in formal situations when you agree with a particular thing that someone has said:
The author makes a good point when he argues that we should look at the wider social causes of
crime.

sb’s point is well made

used when you think that someone has clearly shown that they are right, and that what they say
is important, especially when you want to add something else as well:
Weber’s point is well made, but is obviously not the whole story.
ⓘ This phrase is used especially in formal arguments and discussions.

it is generally/widely accepted that also there is a widely held view/belief that

used when saying that most people agree that something is true:
It is now generally accepted among scientists that global warming is occurring as a result of human
activities.

2.3 strongly agreeing

I totally agree!/I couldn’t agree more!/My feelings exactly!

used in spoken English when you completely agree with someone:


‘He’s such a nice man.’ ‘I couldn’t agree more!’
‘What a waste of time!’ ‘My feelings exactly!’

I agree entirely/wholeheartedly also I am entirely in agreement with sb

used in more formal English when you completely agree with someone:
I agree entirely with the Chief Judge’s conclusion.
I wholeheartedly agree with the previous writer regarding this company.
He found himself entirely in agreement with Churchill.

Absolutely!/Definitely!/Exactly!

used in spoken English when answering someone quickly and saying that you completely agree:
‘I think gas prices are much too high.’ ‘Absolutely!’
‘We should ask them for more money.’ ‘Definitely!’

Totally! AmE informal

used in spoken English when answering someone quickly and saying that you completely agree:
‘The guy is an idiot!’ ‘Totally!’

You’re telling me! informal

used in spoken English, especially when you have had the same experience:
‘The trains are so unreliable these days.’ ‘You’re telling me – mine was half an hour late this morning.’

2.4 partly agreeing

I agree up to a point/to some extent

used when you partly agree with someone:


‘The economic situation doesn’t look too good at the moment.’ ‘I agree with you up to a point, but I
don’t think it’s nearly as bad as people are saying.’
I agree to some extent with this statement.

I have some sympathy with sb/sth

used when saying that you understand the reasons why someone thinks something, although
you do not necessarily agree with them completely:
I have some sympathy with the argument that the monarchy seems out of place in our modern world.

there is some/a lot of truth in sth

used when you think that some or a lot of what someone says is right:
Although these warnings may sound very dramatic, there is some truth in them.
His ideas about love are a bit strange, but there’s a lot of truth in what he says.

I suppose so/I guess so

used in spoken English when you have some doubts about something that someone has said:
‘I think it’s an excellent idea.’ ‘I suppose so, but we don’t know how much it will all cost.’

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