Agreement, partial agreement and disagreement

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The way people agree or disagree in an argument or discussion varies in different languages.

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Agreement:

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It is worthwhile saying that silence is not understood as agreement. If you agree with an opinion or an idea, you are expected to say so.

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Expressions

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There is no doubt about it that...
I completely / absolutely agree with you.
I agree with you entirely.
I totally agree with you. 
I simply must agree with that. 
I am of the same opinion. 
I am of the same opinion. 
That’s exactly what I think.

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Disagreement:

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Expressing disagreement is always respected as honest, and sometimes as courageous.

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Expressions

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I don't agree with you.
I’m sorry, but I disagree. 
I'm afraid, I can't agree with you. 
The problem is that... 
I (very much) doubt whether... 
This is in complete contradiction to... 
With all due respect,…
I am of a different opinion because ... 
I cannot share this / that / the view. 
I cannot agree with this idea. 

What I object to is... 
I have my own thoughts about that.

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Partial agreement:

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You can also agree but with reservation especially when there is a doubt or feeling of not being able to accept something completely

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Expressions

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It is only partly true that... 
That’s true, but…
I can agree with that only with reservations. 
That seems obvious, but... 
That is not necessarily so. 
It is not as simple as it seems. 
I agree with you in principle, but… 
I agree with you in part, but… 
Well, you could be right.

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Both / both of / neither / neither of / either / either

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A/ We use both/ neither/ either for two things. You can use these words with a noun (both books, neither book etc.).

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For example, you are talking about going out to eat this evening. There are two restaurants where you can go. You say:

• Both restaurants are very good, (not 'the both restaurants')

• Neither restaurant is expensive.

• We can go to either restaurant. I don't mind, (either = one or the other, it doesn't matter which one)

 

B/ Both of... / neither of... / either of...

 

When you use both/ neither/ either + of, you always need the... / these/ those... / my/ your/ his/

Tom's... (etc.). You cannot say 'both of restaurants'. You have to say 'both of the restaurants', 'both of those restaurants' etc.:

 

• Both of these restaurants are very good.

• Neither of the restaurants we went to was (or were) expensive.

• I haven't been to either of those restaurants. (= I haven't been to one or the other) You don't need of after both. So you can say:

• Both my parents are from London,    or    Both of my parents...

 

You can use both of / neither of / either of + us/you/them:

• (talking to two people) Can either of you speak Spanish?

• I asked two people the way to the station but neither of them knew.

 

You must say 'both of before us/ you/ them (of is necessary):

• Both of us were very tired, (not 'Both us were...')

 

After neither of... a singular or a plural verb is possible:

• Neither of the children wants (or want) to go to bed.

 

C/ You can also use both/ neither/ either alone:

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• I couldn't decide which of the two shirts to buy. I liked both, (or I liked both of them.)

• 'Is your friend British or American?'  'Neither. She's Australian.'

• 'Do you want tea or coffee?' 'Either. I don't mind.'

 

D/ You can say:

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Both... and...:               Both Ann and Tom were late.

                                        I was both tired and hungry when I arrived home.

 

Neither... nor...:            Neither Liz nor Robin came to the party.

                                        She said she would contact me but she neither wrote nor phoned.

 

Either... or...:                I'm not sure where he's from. He's either Spanish or Italian.

                                        Either you apologise or I'll never speak to you again.

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