Agreeing and Disagreeing Politely with Reasons in Spanish
Agreeing and Disagreeing Politely with Reasons in Spanish
In this lesson, you will agree fully or partly, disagree politely, acknowledge a valid point, give a reason, and ask another person to explain their view. Keep the disagreement focused on the idea rather than the person.
Full agreement
- — I agree.
- — I completely agree.
- Sí, — Yes, I think the same.
- — You are right.
Add a reason to your agreement
Person A: — I think that public transport is useful.
Person B: — I agree because it reduces traffic.
For this lesson, — reduce traffic is useful discussion vocabulary.
Partial agreement
- — I partly agree.
- Entiendo tu punto, — I understand your point, but I see a problem.
- Es verdad que es más barato, — It is true that it is cheaper, but it takes much longer.
Partial agreement lets you recognize one valid point before presenting another angle.
Polite disagreement
- — I do not agree.
- — I do not completely agree.
- — I see it differently.
- Para mí, — For me, there is another better option.
Give a specific reason
Weak:
No estoy de acuerdo porque no. — I disagree because no.
Better:
— I do not agree because the option costs too much.
Acknowledge a point before disagreeing
Person A: — Downtown is more practical because everything is nearby.
Person B: Es verdad que todo está cerca, — It is true that everything is nearby, but for me the noise is an important problem.
This structure keeps the discussion focused on competing considerations.
Ask the other person to explain
- — Why do you think that?
- — What reason do you have?
- — Can you give me an example?
- — What exactly do you mean?
Respond to the reason, not the person
Useful:
— I do not agree with that idea because the cost is very high.
Avoid turning the disagreement into a personal judgment about the speaker.
Discussion Example 1
Person A: — I think that working from home is better.
Person B: Es conveniente, — I partly agree. It is convenient, but some people prefer working with other people.
Discussion Example 2
Person A: — I think that everyone should live downtown.
Person B: El centro es práctico, — I do not completely agree. Downtown is practical, but it is not suitable for everyone.
For this lesson, — should is used only as a discussion phrase inside the example. Systematic conditional formation is taught later.
Clarify before disagreeing
If you are not sure what the person means, ask first:
— Do you mean that it is better for everyone?
Then respond to the clarified idea.
Do not confuse a backchannel with agreement
— I understand can show that you followed the explanation without saying that you agree.
After understanding, you can still say:
Entiendo, — I understand, but I do not agree.
A practical discussion method
- State whether you agree fully, partly, or not completely.
- Give one specific reason.
- Acknowledge a valid point when appropriate.
- Add your different angle with pero or another familiar connector.
- Ask the other person to explain or give an example when useful.
- Clarify the meaning before disagreeing if the position is unclear.
- Focus the disagreement on the idea rather than the person.
- Keep the discussion moving instead of trying to “win” it.
From Discussion to a Short Written Opinion
You can now agree or disagree politely, support your position with a reason, and ask another person to explain their view. The next lesson is Writing a Short Spanish Opinion with Supporting Examples.
Spanish phrases
Estoy de acuerdo.
I agree.
Estoy totalmente de acuerdo.
I completely agree.
Sí, pienso lo mismo.
Yes, I think the same.
Tienes razón.
You are right.
Estoy de acuerdo porque reduce el tráfico.
I agree because it reduces traffic.
Estoy de acuerdo en parte.
I partly agree.
Entiendo tu punto, pero veo un problema.
I understand your point, but I see a problem.
Es verdad que es más barato, pero tarda mucho más.
It is true that it is cheaper, but it takes much longer.
No estoy de acuerdo.
I disagree.
No estoy totalmente de acuerdo.
I don't completely agree.
Yo lo veo de otra manera.
I see it differently.
Para mí, hay otra opción mejor.
For me, there is another better option.
No estoy de acuerdo porque la opción cuesta demasiado.
I disagree because the option costs too much.
¿Por qué piensas eso?
Why do you think that?
¿Puedes darme un ejemplo?
Can you give me an example?
¿Qué quieres decir exactamente?
What exactly do you mean?
No estoy de acuerdo con esa idea porque el coste es muy alto.
I disagree with that idea because the cost is very high.
Entiendo, pero no estoy de acuerdo.
I understand, but I disagree.