Making a suggestion / proposal

Strong	Neutral	Tentative
I strongly recommend that…	I propose / suggest that…	I would propose that…
I suggest most strongly that…	My proposal / suggestion	If I may make a suggestion,
I advise you most strongly	is…	we could…
to…		I would like to put forward a
In our view, it is high time		proposal that…
that…		I wonder if I might suggest…
In my view, the only viable		Wouldn't it be a good idea to…?
solution is…		Wouldn't it be better to…?
Expressing support

 

Total	General	Partial
I am fully in favour of...	I am in favour of …	My	initial	reaction	is

This proposal has my full		I would certainly give my		favourable, but …
support.		backing to …		With	certain reservations, I
I can thoroughly recom-		I would certainly endorse such		would support your proposal.
mend that …		a proposal.		I shouldn't like you to think
I should like to express my		I see no objection to that.		that	I'm necessarily against
total support for this...		I would not be opposed to		this in any way, but I can't
I totally agree with …		that.				help wondering …
I entirely approve of …
Expressing opposition
Total		General		Tentative
I am totally opposed to		I am opposed to the proposal.		On the face of it, this seems
the proposal.		I'm afraid I can't support the		quite a good suggestion, but …
I see no valid reason for		proposal.		I can see many problems in
supporting the proposal.		As it stands, I would not be		adopting this.
Frankly I think that's out		able to give it my backing.		I'm not sure the proposal is
of the question.		Without substantial changes, I		feasible.
I'm afraid this proposal		cannot give the proposal my		This proposal is likely to
leaves a great deal to be		support.		present difficulties.
desired.						I'm not convinced that this
						proposal is really worthwhile.
Asking for an opinion			Asking for a reaction
What's your opinion of …?			Could I ask for your reaction to …?
What's your position on …?			I was wondering where you stood on this question?
What do you think of …?			Where exactly do you stand on this issue?
I'd like to hear your views on …		I wonder if you'd like to comment, Mrs Lang?
Giving opinion
Strong		Neutral		Tentative
I firmly believe that …		I think that …		It seems to me that …
I'm absolutely convinced that…	In my opinion, …		I would say that …
It's my belief that …		It's my opinion that...		As far as I'm able to judge …
There's no doubt in my mind that…	As I see it, …		I think it would be fair to
It's quite clear that …		As far as I'm concerned…		say that …

I'm certain that …

From my point of view…

It's my considered opinion that…

Expressing agreement

Strong

Neutral

Partial

I completely agree.

I agree.

I would tend to agree with you

I agree entirely

with

I think we are in agreement on that.

on that.

your point of view.

I think you're right.

I agree with you on the whole,

I'm of exactly the same

I think we can accept your

but it could be said that…

opinion.

position on that.

I agree in principle, but…

I'm in total agreement.

Although I agree with most of

By and large I would accept

what you've said, I find it

your views, but…

difficult to agree with your

point about …

Expressing disagreement

Strong

Neutral

Tactful

I totally disagree with you.

I don't completely agree with

I agree up to a point, but…

I don't agree at all.

you on that.

To a certain extent I agree

You

are

completely

I really can't agree with you on

with you, but…

mistaken.

that.

You have a point there,

I disagree entirely.

I can't say that I share your view.

but…

Under

no

circumstances

We'll have to agree to differ.

I take your point, Mr

could I agree to that.

I'm not totally convinced by

Hoffman,

but have you

What you are saying is

your argument.

considered…?

just not feasible.

I can't accept your point of view.

I can see your point of view,

I can't help feeling that …

but surely…

I feel I must disagree.

I have some sympathy with

I really must take issue with you

your position, but…

here.

Softening strong disagreement

Softening neutral disagreement

Frankly, …

To be quite frank, …

I'm afraid …

I'm sorry, …

With respect, …

To put it bluntly, …

With respect, …

I respect your opinion, of course, however …

The Structure of Meetings