EXPRESSING Expressing attitudes and feelings precisely ● To agree = feel the same way/ with you on that one/ would have to agree with you there. To express how you feel when you agree with someone there are a few phrases you could use: ○ I agree with you ○ Yes, that's right ○ I feel the same way ○ I would have to agree with you there ○ I'm with you on that one. For example: I would have to agree with you there, the child needs more discipline. ● To disagree = don't think that’s the case/ what I am trying to say is/ as far as I am concerned.To express how you feel when you disagree with someone you could use: ○ I don't agree ○ I don't think that’s the case ○ What I am trying to say is... ○ You do have a point there but... ○ As far as I am concerned… For example: You do have a point there but I still feel that we should reschedule the party. Expressing certainty, probability, doubt ● ● ● Certainty = definitely/certainly. To express certainty you would say: ○ Yes, I definitely will be at the party. ○ Yes, she will certainly be at the party. ○ Yes, I am positive that he will be at the party. Probability = probably/possibly/may/might/could. To express probability you would use the modals may, might or could: ○ She may be at the party. ○ She might be at the party. ○ She could be at the party. Doubt = doubtful/unlikely ○ To express doubt you would say: ○ It's doubtful that he will be at the party. ○ It's unlikely that he will be at the party. Expressing reaction, eg indifference To express reactions we can use some common phrases. For example: ● ● ● ● ● I simply don't care. It's not such a big issue. That's your opinion. It's all the same to me. Whatever you say. ● ● ● ● ● I couldn't care less. You're entitled to your opinion I suppose. What difference does it make anyway? If you say so.. You can say that again! (Used if someone states something obvious). Examples: A: There's a great football match on TV at the moment! B: I couldn't care less to be honest. I'm not the slightest bit interested in football. A: You never help out around the house! B: Whatever you say. We've talked about this before and I've told you that I'm tired after work. A: It's pretty hot out today. B: You can say that again. It's boiling! Expresssing opinions tentatively, hedging Use modal verbs in cautious language = Can/could/may/might/should/perhaps. To give an opinion tentatively using hedging we can use certain phrases and modal verbs with 'that'. For example: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Am I right in thinking that..? I should think that.. It could be said that.. It might well be that.. Many people would agree that.. I can't help thinking that... After giving this some serious thought I've come to the conclusion that.. Perhaps it's true that.. It seems to indicate that... For example: It could be said that cats make better pets than dogs. Perhaps it's true that there aren't enough train stations in the city. It might well be that we need to employ more people. PERSUADING Negotiating Offers - We use the pronoun we. Typically, we use the pronoun we if we are negotiating on behalf of a company or group. ● ● ● We’d like to offer you _________ Would you be interested in ________? We have a variety of ________ to offer you. Counteroffers - We say something positive about the offer, and then we ask for something more or different. ● ● ● That sounds good, but could you _________ (suggestion) That is interesting, but do you have _________ (product) Would you be able to _________ (request) Usually in English, we try to say something positive about the offer, and then we ask for something more or different. Agreement on a deal ● ● ● ● ● That's a fair suggestion. I think we can both agree that _________. I think we can accept those terms. I think we can agree on those terms. I think that’s acceptable. Useful terms ● ● ● ● A win-win situation (both groups benefit) Terms of the deal (legal details) We’re getting nowhere (unproductive negotiations) Let’s get down to business (talk/work seriously) Conceding a point Concede a point with connectors = while/but/however/although ● ● ● ● We can concede a point using certain words, called connectors. These are words which we would use to concede a point in a discussion but then continue with an opposite opinion. Examples of connectors: but, although, however, while For example: While it seems that this could be the missing laptop, there is no evidence that actually proves it. Concede a point with phrases = That may be true but/You have a point there/You could say that but… There are also a few general phrases which we could use to concede a point. Examples of these phrases are: ● ● ● That may be true but... You have a point there but... You could say that but... For example: You have a point there but we can still see that the dam levels have been dropping quickly. Critiquing and reviewing constructively Criticism = modal verbs and less harsh-sounding verbs ● ● ● ● ● ● To give criticism, it's important to be polite and to not sound too harsh. To soften criticism we could use modal verbs. For example: could, may, might The essay conclusion might be a bit advanced for intermediate readers. We could also soften our sentences by using less harsh-sounding verbs. For example: seems, appears It seems that the introduction of the essay doesn't link with the body of the essay. Suggestions = would be ● ● ● To suggest ways of correcting problem areas in a piece of writing, it is a good idea to give a solution using "would be." For example: The conclusion would be better-rounded if a summary of the argument was included. Responding to counterarguments Use those phrases to respond to counterarguments! To respond to counterarguments there are a variety of different types of language and phrases that can be used. For example: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● You may be right but it seems to me that.. On the contrary.. No matter which way you look at it, ... Although I agree up to a point, I still maintain that... While it may be true that... It doesn't necessarily follow that... It can't be denied that some good points have been made here, however, …. These arguments have some merit, nevertheless, …. Certainly some good points are raised... Examples: A: Marriage is an outdated concept and will eventually disappear. B: You may be right but it seems to me that it could survive in some form or other. A: Robots will take over all jobs within the next twenty years. B: While it may be true that robots will take over some jobs, it doesn't necessarily follow that they will replace all human workers. A: I think Professor Johnson's analysis of the state of modern politics is very accurate. B: Certainly some good points are raised by the professor but I disagree with him about his views on democracy. SPECULATING Speculating and hypothesising about causes, consequences, etc. Use those phrases to hypothesise and speculate, but remember that some phrases are only used to speculate about consequences! 1. To speculate about causes and consequences there are a variety of language structures that can be used. For example: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● If you had been here it would… Supposing...? No matter which way you look at it… We might have... I'd be surprised if it doesn't... I'll be very surprised if... I imagine it was because... 2. Some phrases are only used to speculate about consequences. ● ● ● ● There will probably be... I expect it will... It's likely that it will... It's possible that they will... For example: A: That car is going way too fast. B: Yes, I'd be surprised if it doesn't crash. A: Tom's quit his job. B: I imagine it was because he was bored. A: The President is taking the credit for reducing unemployment. B: Supposing he hadn't been elected? Would it really have made any difference? CLARIFYING Synthesising, evaluating and glossing information Use those phrases to evaluate, synthesize, summarize and gloss information! 1. To summarize we can use some common phrases. For example: ● ● ● ● ● In a nutshell, Jim had to take responsibility. To cut a long story short, he ended up in jail. Basically, he didn't have enough money. In short, he is a liar. So I would say, in summary, that the campaign has been a great success. 2. To synthesize and evaluate opinions we can use some other language structures. For example: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● While X makes an intriguing argument, I would disagree… According to both X & Y… The evidence shows that… X suggests that... whereas Y says... X appears to be saying that... X seems to be saying that... Whereas X believes that ... I believe... For example: ● ● ● ● The Matrix movie journeys on a philosophical search to explain our own existence. In a nutshell, it's saying that we live in a world that may not be real. Smith suggests that poverty is caused by failings within society whereas Jones says that it is caused by individual failure. There were a multitude of reasons that had resulted in his current situation. Basically, he hadn't worked hard enough and was now facing the consequences.