Spoken English · Guides · October 30, 2026 · 4 min read
Expressing opinions in English: phrases for giving opinions, agreeing and disagreeing
Expressing opinions in English is something you do all the time: in meetings, in class discussions, in group interviews, with friends over dinner. The language is not difficult, but the tone matters. A sentence like You are wrong is grammatically perfect and socially risky. English speakers usually soften opinions and disagreements. Below are phrases for giving opinions, agreeing, disagreeing, asking others and staying neutral, with sample discussions.
Giving your opinion
| Strength | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Neutral, everyday | I think… / In my opinion… / For me… / I feel that… |
| Soft, not sure | I’m not sure, but I think… / It seems to me that… / I might be wrong, but… |
| Strong | I’m sure that… / I strongly believe that… / I’m convinced that… |
| Honest | To be honest… / Personally… / If you ask me… |
| Formal (meetings, exams) | From my point of view… / As far as I’m concerned… / My view is that… |
Examples:
- I think online classes are good for adults with jobs.
- If you ask me, the new metro line is the best thing that happened to the city.
- I might be wrong, but I don’t think the price will go down.
Give a reason. An opinion sounds stronger with because or an example: I think we should leave early, because the traffic is terrible after five.
Agreeing
- I agree. / I agree with you.
- Exactly. / Absolutely. / Definitely.
- That’s true. / That’s a good point.
- I think so too.
- I couldn’t agree more. (very strong)
- You’re right about that.
Partly agreeing:
- I agree up to a point.
- That’s true, but…
- I see what you mean, but…
- You have a point, but…
Disagreeing politely
| Too direct | Polite |
|---|---|
| You are wrong. | I’m not sure I agree. |
| No, that’s not true. | I see it a bit differently. |
| That’s a bad idea. | I’m not sure that would work, because… |
| I disagree. (alone) | I’m afraid I disagree. In my experience… |
More phrases:
- I see your point, but I think…
- That’s one way to look at it, but…
- Actually, I think it’s the other way round.
- I take your point, but have you thought about…?
The pattern is: acknowledge (I see your point), then your view (but I think…), then a reason.
Asking for opinions
- What do you think?
- What’s your opinion on…?
- How do you feel about…?
- Do you agree?
- What about you, Sara? Any thoughts?
Staying neutral
- It depends. (and say on what: It depends on the price.)
- I can see both sides.
- There are pros and cons.
- I haven’t really thought about it.
- I don’t have a strong opinion on that.
Sample discussion 1: work meeting
Manager: So, should we move the team meeting to Monday mornings?
Leila: I think it’s a good idea. Everyone is fresh on Monday.
Joseph: I see what you mean, but a lot of us have client calls on Monday mornings.
Leila: That’s a good point. What about Monday after lunch?
Joseph: That could work. I’d agree with that.
Manager: Priya, what do you think?
Priya: To be honest, I don’t have a strong opinion. After lunch is fine for me.
Sample discussion 2: with friends
Ken: That film was amazing. Best film of the year.
Amina: Really? I’m not sure I agree. It was too long for me.
Ken: Too long? It was exciting from start to finish!
Amina: The action was great, I agree. But the story was a bit weak, if you ask me.
Ken: Fair enough. The ending was strange, I’ll give you that.
Notice how Amina disagrees softly (I’m not sure I agree), gives a reason, and agrees with part of Ken’s opinion.
Common mistakes
- “I am agree.” Agree is a verb. Say I agree.
- “According to me…” is common in India but sounds odd elsewhere. Use In my opinion or I think. According to is for other people’s views: according to the report.
- “I think no.” Say I don’t think so.
- “In my opinion, I think…” says the same thing twice. Choose one.
- Too strong too often. Definitely and absolutely in every sentence make you sound aggressive.
- Only “I agree” or “I disagree”. Add a reason to keep the discussion going.
Practise giving opinions
Opinions are a big part of exams (IELTS Speaking Part 3, group discussions in job interviews) and of real meetings. The conversation linked below this article opens the Meeting room on Nomto: Nomi runs a short work meeting, asks what you think and pushes back a little, and after each reply you see a more natural version. See also business English and English conversation topics for discussion questions.
FAQ
How do you express your opinion in English?
Use I think…, In my opinion… or Personally… and give a reason: Personally, I prefer trains because they’re more comfortable.
How do you disagree politely in English?
Acknowledge the other view, then give yours with a reason: I see your point, but I think it would be too expensive.
Is “according to me” correct?
It is understood, but it is not standard in British or American English. Say in my opinion or I think.
What can I say instead of “I agree”?
Exactly. / That’s true. / I think so too. / You’re right. / I couldn’t agree more.