7. Expressing pros and cons

1. An argument for this would be /in favour of/against is ...

2. On the one hand ..., on the other hand ...

3. Some people think that ..., others say that ...

4. There are two sides to the question…

5. While admitting that ... one should not forget that…

8. Expressing agreement

1. I agree completely / entirely.

2. I couldn't agree more.

3. I agree in some way

4. I agree in theory, but…

5. I agree with you on this.

6. I couldn't agree with you more.

7. I don't think so either.

8. I see your point.

9. I suppose so.

10. I think it depends

11. I think so, too.

12. I think that it is a great idea.

13. I think you're quite right.

14. I'd go along with that.

15. In a way, yes

16. It's a good point.

17. It's great! / That's great! / Great!

18. It's very good! / Very good!

19. Looks like that

20. Maybe / perhaps (not)

21. Most likely

22. Neither do I.

23. Of course. / Certainly. / Sure.

24. Right you are

25. Right.

26. So do I.

27. That is a very good / important point.

28. That seems reasonable.

29. That's exactly what I think.

30. That's just what I was thinking.

31. That's true. / That's right.

32. To a certain degree / extent you are right

33. Yes, definitively.

34. Yes, to some extent

35. Yes, up to a point …

36. You took the words right out of my mouth.

37. You're (absolutely) right.

38. You've got a good point there.

9. Expressing doubt

1. I'm not(quite) sure if ...

2. I'm not convinced that ...

3. I wonder if you realise that ...

4. I doubt that.

5. Maybe, but I'm not sure.

6. I'm not sure that I agree with your argument.

7. I have to think about it.

8. I have mixed feelings about it.

9. There can be no doubt that …

10. It is a fact that …

11. Indeed / actually

10. Expressing disagreement

1. Although

2. Are you serious? / You must be joking.

3. Basically, I understand what you mean, but I think your conclusions are wrong.

4. Do you really think so?

5. Even so

6. Hardly

7. However

8. I cannot accept your view that …

9. I cannot share this view.

10. I can't agree, I'm afraid.

11. I can't believe it.

12. I disagree (completely).

13. I don’t agree with you at all

14. I don't agree with you about ...

15. I don't believe it.

16. I don't know.

17. I don't like this idea.

18. I don't quite agree here.

19. I don't think it will work.

20. I don't think so.

21. I must take issue with you on that.

22. I shouldn’t / wouldn't say so.

23. I’m afraid not.

24. I'm afraid I have to disagree.

25. I'm against…

26. I'm not quite so sure.

27. I'm not so sure about that.

28. I'm of a different opinion.

29. I'm sorry to disagree with you, but…

30. I'm sorry, but it's not quite right.

31. It can't be true!

32. It’s hard to say

33. It's unjustifiable to say that...

34. Most unlike

35. Nevertheless / still

36. Nothing of the kind

37. On the contrary…

38. Sorry? / Beg your pardon?

39. That’s rubbish

40. That's different.

41. That's not entirely / exactly true.

42. That's not how I see it.

43. That's not the same thing at all.

44. To tell (you) the truth, I have a different opinion.

45. Yes, but don't you think…

46. Yet

47. You are mistaken

48. You’ve got it all wrong

11. Asking to repeat

1. Could you repeat what you just said?

2. Can you repeat it, please?

3. What did you say?

12. Interrupting the speaker

1. I'm sorry for the interruption

2. Could I make a suggestion?

3. Excuse me for interrupting you, but

4. If I could just make a point here.

5. Sorry to interrupt, but I'd just like to say that …

13. Giving in gracefully

1. I suppose you're right somehow.

2. I guess you are right.

3. It's just that I was thinking of.

4. There's something in what you say, I guess.

14. Apologising

179. I am terribly / awfully / very / really sorry that …

180. I sincerely apologise for (not) … +gerund / noun

181. I greatly / deeply regret …

182. I do / must / would like to / wish to / sincerely apologise for … +gerund / noun

183. I hope you will excuse /forgive me for (not) … +gerund / noun

184. Please, accept my apologies.

Note:

Never say or write "I beg your pardon" if you want to apologise for something, the meaning of this expression being that you haven't understood and would like the other person to repeat.

“Excuse me!” is not so much a true apology as a polite remark enabling you to make a request or cover up a slight disturbance.

"Sorry" is a true apology, i.e. when stepping on someone's foot.

15. Giving reasons

1. The reason for this is (that) ...

2. I base my argument on ...

3. I tell you all this because ...

4. There is no reason why …

5. because

6. since

7. as

16. Keeping to the point

1. ... has nothing to do with my argument.

2. Come to the point.

3. It would be more to the point if ...

4. That's not relevant.

5. That's not the problem.

6. What we are discussing is…

17. Adding information

1. Also,

2. Besides,

3. I'd like to add that

4. In addition to that

5. What's more

18. Making a suggestion

1. How about …?

2. I suggest ….

3. Let's …

4. We could …

5. Why don't we …?

6. Wouldn't it be a good idea to …?

7. You could …

19. Drawing conclusions and summing up

1. In conclusion we can say that ...

2. Just to give you the main points again, ...

3. Last but not least ...

4. Summing up, I'd like to say that ...

5. The obvious conclusion is ...

6. The only alternative (left) is ...

7. The only possible solution/con­clusion is ...

8. To cut a long story short,…

20. Asking to explain

1. Could you explain it, please?

2. Do you mean that

3. I'd like to know …

4. I'm afraid I don't understand.

5. What are you trying to say?

6. What do you mean by saying that

7. Why? Why not?

8. Would you mind explaining it in detail?

21. Explaining and clarifying

1. I mean that …

2. In other words, …

3. What I am trying to say is that …

4. What I wanted to say was that …

5. You misunderstood. Let me explain.

22. Understanding

1. I understand.

2. I got it.

3. I see what you mean.

4. I see your point.

23. Being evasive when you don't know the answer

1. Don't ask me.

2. I don't know.

3. I have no idea.

4. I wish I knew.

5. I'd need more information to answer your question.

6. I'm afraid I can't give you a definitive answer at present.

7. I'm afraid I couldn't say.

8. Sorry to sound evasive, but there is no straightforward answer to that.

24. Summarising one's arguments

1. In conclusion…

2. It follows from this that…

3. So,…

4. Therefore …

5. To conclude…

6. To sum up..

25. Making suggestions and recommendations

249. Any suggestions? I think we should …

250. Do any of you have any suggestions? Have you thought of ... +gerund / noun

251. I'd like to hear your ideas on this. It might be a good idea to …

252. What do you recommend / suggest? I see no alternative but to