Beg to Differ and Other Expressions of Disagreement
2022-05-21
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1Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question from Yevgen, from Ukraine, about the use of "I beg to differ" and disagreement expressions in American English.
2Hello everybody. I would like to know the best disagreeing phrases.
3How common [is the] phrase 'I beg to differ' in American English? Best regards,
4Yevgen, from Ukraine.
5Dear Yevgen,
6Thank you for your question.
7The expression "I beg to differ" is not commonly used in American English.
8This British English expression of disagreement is quite formal and extremely polite.
9We have several expressions in American English for disagreement.
10Some are more formal and polite than others. We will take a closer look at a few of those expressions today.
11You can use these basic statements for disagreeing: either "I disagree" or "I do not agree."
12However, sometimes these statements are too strong for certain conversations.
13If we disagree with someone in a formal setting or over a sensitive issue, such as politics or beliefs, we sometimes add the following phrases before our basic messages.
14I am afraid I disagree.
15I see your point, but I do not agree.
16I understand what you are saying, but I disagree.
17These expressions are used to hedge, or soften, what we say.
18They are used like a barrier - think of a green bush that surrounds a garden or house - to help protect the receiver of the message.
19Hedging expressions let the writer or speaker say what they want to say less directly or politely.
20When we speak to a close friend or family member, we often use less formal hedge expressions. For example:
21Speaker A (Husband): What time should we wake up? Our flight leaves at 9:30 in the morning.
22Speaker B (Wife): We should wake up at 4:00 a.m. to arrive at the airport by 6:00 a.m.
23Speaker A (Husband): Well, I don't think so. We will be waiting for a long time!
24In this example, speaker B uses the word "well" to hedge or soften the sentence and "I don't think so" to disagree.
25This informal expression of disagreement is acceptable since the speakers are close and familiar with each other.
26Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you, Yevgen!
27What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com
28And that's Ask a Teacher.
29I'm Faith Pirlo.
1Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question from Yevgen, from Ukraine, about the use of "I beg to differ" and disagreement expressions in American English. 2Question: 3Hello everybody. I would like to know the best disagreeing phrases. How common [is the] phrase 'I beg to differ' in American English? Best regards, 4Yevgen, from Ukraine. 5Answer: 6Dear Yevgen, 7Thank you for your question. The expression "I beg to differ" is not commonly used in American English. This British English expression of disagreement is quite formal and extremely polite. 8We have several expressions in American English for disagreement. Some are more formal and polite than others. We will take a closer look at a few of those expressions today. 9You can use these basic statements for disagreeing: either "I disagree" or "I do not agree." However, sometimes these statements are too strong for certain conversations. 10If we disagree with someone in a formal setting or over a sensitive issue, such as politics or beliefs, we sometimes add the following phrases before our basic messages. 11I am afraid I disagree. 12I see your point, but I do not agree. 13I understand what you are saying, but I disagree. 14These expressions are used to hedge, or soften, what we say. They are used like a barrier - think of a green bush that surrounds a garden or house - to help protect the receiver of the message. Hedging expressions let the writer or speaker say what they want to say less directly or politely. 15When we speak to a close friend or family member, we often use less formal hedge expressions. For example: 16Speaker A (Husband): What time should we wake up? Our flight leaves at 9:30 in the morning. 17Speaker B (Wife): We should wake up at 4:00 a.m. to arrive at the airport by 6:00 a.m. 18Speaker A (Husband): Well, I don't think so. We will be waiting for a long time! 19In this example, speaker B uses the word "well" to hedge or soften the sentence and "I don't think so" to disagree. This informal expression of disagreement is acceptable since the speakers are close and familiar with each other. 20Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you, Yevgen! 21What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com 22And that's Ask a Teacher. 23I'm Faith Pirlo. 24Faith Pirlo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. 25Do you have a question for the teacher? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. 26___________________________________________________________________ 27Words in This Story 28beg - v. to ask for help; to appeal 29polite - adj. having or showing good manners or respect for other people 30formal - adj. serious or official rather than relaxed and informal 31hedge - v. to use words and phrase to soften what we say, making it more indirect to protect the receiver of the message 32bush - n. a usually low shrub with many branches