Useful Phrases for Discussion and Debate in English
1. Introduction
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Let’s begin/start with …
2. What you think about somebody/something
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As far as I’m concerned …
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I think …
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In my opinion …
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As far as I know …
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In my view …
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I don’t think …
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I don’t believe that …
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Well, if you ask me …
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If you want my honest opinion …
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I’ve never come across the idea that …
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…
3. How to agree/disagree
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I must admit that …
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I totally/fully/partly agree.
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I agree/don’t agree with you.
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I believe/don’t believe …
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I’m convinced that …
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The way I see it …
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It seems to me that …
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I wouldn’t say that …
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I don’t think so.
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You’re right up to a point.
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You could be right.
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That can’t be right.
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I don’t agree at all.
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As a matter of fact, …
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That’s right/wrong.
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Exactly.
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I can understand …
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It’s hard to say.
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It’s a fact that …
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However, …
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That’s why …
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…
4. Asking for clarification
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What do you think?
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What’s your opinion?
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Would you like to say something?
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What do you mean?
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What are your ideas?
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What are you trying to say?
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…
5. How to interrupt politely
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I’m sorry, but …
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Can/May I add something?
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Sorry to interrupt, but …
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…
6. Other opinions
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On the one hand … on the other hand …
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They claim that …
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They also say …
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Opinion among teachers is that …
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That’s a matter of opinion.
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…
7. Phrases to keep a discussion going
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Let’s get back to …
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As we just heard …
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Where were we?
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…
Phrases for Discussion and Debate
