Everyday Speaking Skills in English – Lesson 1: Giving Opinions and Agreeing / Disagreeing

Vocabulary

This lesson focuses on the functional language you need to express your opinion clearly and respond to other people’s views in English. At B1 level, you should be moving beyond I think... and I agree towards more natural, nuanced phrases that reflect how English speakers actually talk.

Each phrase is labelled by register: neutral (suitable for most situations), formal (written or professional contexts), or informal (casual conversation).

Giving your opinion

Agreeing

Disagreeing and partially disagreeing

Listening Practice

Listen to two colleagues — Dan and Priya — discussing remote working. As you listen, notice how they use the functional phrases from the vocabulary section. Some questions ask about attitude and implied meaning.

▶ Conversation — The Remote Working Debate

Dan: I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Personally, I think remote working has been one of the best changes to come out of the last few years. The flexibility is just incredible.

Priya: I can see where you are coming from, and I agree to some extent — the flexibility is genuinely valuable. But I am not entirely convinced it works for everyone.

Dan: What do you mean exactly?

Priya: Well, from my perspective, a lot depends on your home situation. If you have a quiet space and a clear routine, it is brilliant. But not everyone has that.

Dan: That is a fair point. I suppose I have been lucky with my setup. But surely the answer is not to go back to five days in an office?

Priya: Absolutely not. As far as I am concerned, the hybrid model makes the most sense — some days at home, some in the office. You get the best of both.

Dan: I tend to agree, actually. Though I would argue that companies should let individuals decide how many days they come in, rather than imposing a fixed number.

Priya: That is an interesting point, but I am not sure I agree entirely. Some teams genuinely need face-to-face time to function well, and if it is left to individuals, some people will always choose to stay home.

Dan: I take your point. But with respect, I think that says more about management than about remote working itself. If people are engaged and well-managed, it does not matter where they are.

Priya: You might be right. I suppose what I am really saying is that I do not think there is a one-size-fits-all answer.

Dan: On that we completely agree. It is a much more nuanced conversation than most companies are having.

This lesson uses your browser’s built-in text-to-speech. The voice may vary depending on your device.

Answer the questions. Some require you to infer attitude or implied meaning.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct phrase to complete each sentence. Pay attention to meaning, register, and grammar.

Matching

Match each phrase to its function or meaning.

Gap Fill

Choose the correct phrase to complete each sentence.

Choose the Right Phrase

Each question gives you an original sentence and a context explaining why it is unsuitable. Choose the rewrite that is most appropriate for the context. Think carefully about register, meaning, and how the phrase fits the situation.

Error Identification

Each sentence contains one error, or no error at all. Click the word you think is wrong and select the reason. If the sentence is correct, select the reason without clicking a word.

Complete the Dialogue

Choose the correct phrase from each dropdown to complete the conversation. Think about meaning, register, and how each phrase fits the flow of the discussion.

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