English Agreeing & Disagreeing Phrases

Level: B1. This is a phrasebook, not a grammar lesson. Grab the line you need — a quick yes, a strong yes, a gentle no — and say it aloud with the audio. Each phrase is tagged with its register (how formal it sounds) and its strength (how firmly it agrees or disagrees). For the technique behind the phrases — building a point, defending it, changing someone’s mind — follow the Expressing Opinions lesson and the Debating & Argumentation lesson.

By the end of this page you can…

…agree and disagree at the strength you mean, using the short reply that matches the verb, and say a polite “no” without sounding rude.

Agreeing

Pick the strength you mean. A plain I agree is fine everywhere; the stronger ones add warmth or emphasis.

Short agreement replies (So do I / Neither do I)

To agree with a whole statement in one breath, copy the speaker’s auxiliary verb and flip the subject. Use So… after a positive, Neither/Nor… after a negative.

Disagreeing politely

English speakers rarely say a flat No, you’re wrong. Soften first — acknowledge the point, then give yours.

Partly agreeing

Real discussions are rarely all-or-nothing. These phrases let you agree with a part while keeping your doubt.

Example phrases to say aloud

Play each line and copy the rhythm. These carry you through agreeing, half-agreeing and saying a polite no.

A short conversation

Ravi: I think we should book the earlier flight. It’s cheaper. Tom: That’s true, but it leaves at five in the morning. Ravi: Fair enough. I hadn’t thought about the taxi. Tom: And I can’t sleep on planes anyway. Ravi: Neither can I, to be honest. So the later one? Tom: I couldn’t agree more.

Common mistakes

• ❌ I am agree with you. → ✅ I agree with you. (Agree is a verb; no am.)
• ❌ I agree with that. / I agree to your idea. → ✅ I agree with you / I agree with that idea. (Agree with a person or opinion.)
• ❌ So I do. → ✅ So do I. (In the short reply, the auxiliary comes before the subject: So do I.)
• ❌ Me too after a negative → ✅ Me neither / Neither do I. (After a negative, use neither, not too.)
• ❌ I’m not agree. → ✅ I disagree / I don’t agree. (There is no be + agree.)

Usage notes

• Agree with vs agree to vs agree on: you agree with a person or opinion, agree to a proposal or request, and agree on a shared decision (We agreed on a date).
• “Me too” / “Me neither”: the quick, informal versions. Me too mirrors a positive; Me neither mirrors a negative. Full forms (So do I / Neither do I) sound a touch more careful.
• Soften before a strong no: a short I’m afraid… or I see your point, but… makes even total disagreement sound civil.
• The auxiliary carries the meaning: short replies lean on the same helper-verb system as ellipsis & substitution — the main verb is dropped and the auxiliary stands in.
• BrE vs AmE: both use So do I and Me neither; Me either is heard in informal American English for Me neither.

Practice

Recap cheat-sheet

Quick recap before the quiz.

Quiz

Next

• Learn the technique: English: Debating & Argumentation and Expressing Opinions
• Previous phrase set: English Opinion & Discussion Phrases
• Next phrase set: English Texting & Chat Phrases
• More phrases: the English phrases hub
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