Hi Bob the Canadian here.
There will times when you are having an English conversation when you will need to disagree
with somebody.
But you will want to do it in a way where you still show respect for the other person,
even if you don't agree with their point of view.
So you'll want to do a few things to make the conversation be more like a discussion
and less like an argument.
First of all, relax.
Calm down.
Be reasonable in your approach.
Getting upset and raising your voice never helps with a conversation.
If you can, find a spot where the two of you can sit down.
Sitting down is a less aggressive approach to having a conversation with someone.
Take your time.
Make sure you listen to their point of view.
And don't interrupt them when they are talking.
Here are a few things that you can say during this conversation that are extremely polite
but still allow you to express your point of view.
You could say:
I see Dave, but in my opinion we shouldn't have to pay for water.
It should be free.
Or, you could say:
I understand where you are coming from Dave, but I think dogs in the park should always
be on a leash.
You could also say:
Dave, I see your point of view, but I think it would be better if we spent the money on
new clothing.
And if you're looking for a few other options, you could also say things like:
Hmmm.
That's interesting, but the way I see it, it would be better if we went to the mall
before we went out to eat.
And finally you could also say: Dave, I'm not sure I agree with that.
I think we would be better off buying a new car instead of driving the old car for another
year.
There are also a few things that you SHOULDN'T say when you are having a discussion with
someone.
You SHOULDN'T outright say:
You are wrong!
This is very impolite in English.
You should never say to someone outright:
I disagree with you!
This is also somewhat impolite in English.
And you should certainly never say:
Only an idiot would say that!
Because that is an outright insult.
Bob the Canadian here.
That's a few ways that you can have a disagreement with someone in English and have a resolution
at the end of a discussion instead of having an argument.
Bob the Canadian here.
Learn English with Bob the Canadian
Have a great day.