Hi, Tim here with another 9 to 5 English lesson in

Today's lesson we're going to learn how [to] agree with ideas

Every day in life and work. We have to decide whether we agree or

disagree with other people's ideas

it might be in a serious discussion about who to hire or

how to cut costs or in a simple conversation about where to go for lunch and

when you hear an idea that you like

You want to show your support for it, right?

so you say something to agree with the idea to give it your support and

One good way to do that is to use that word

support, I mean

You can say something like I can support that

There are other ways to say the same thing

for example

you can say something makes a lot of sense which means it is [a] good idea or

you could say that [an] idea could work and

By saying something makes sense or could work

You're not just saying you agree

But that you agree because it's a good idea

How about practicing these expressions for [agreeing]?

We're going to present [some] examples

after each example try repeating it yourself

Ready let's get started

Yes, I think that could work

I can support that

You've brought up a really important point there

That makes a lot of sense to me, too

So we've [just] practiced some simple ways of showing that you agree with an idea

But what if you think an idea is more than just good I mean

what if you think it's a

fantastic idea

Well in that case

You want to agree strongly with the idea and show that you really love it in

English we've got some great expressions for this situation

for example

You can say I couldn't have said it better myself

Which means the person explained it perfectly?

Similarly you can say I couldn't agree with you more

Which means you totally agree?

These expressions beginning with AI are used to show you strongly agree

But you can start with that

meaning the idea and say how great it is for

[example], you could say that's brilliant

or

That's the best idea I've heard all day

Let's practice these expressions

for agreeing

strongly with ideas

Remember to repeat each example after you hear it I?

Couldn't have said it better myself

I couldn't agree with you more

That's Brilliant

That's the best idea I've heard all day

Now we've been focusing on how to show you agree with an idea but sometimes

You hear an idea and you're not [sure] if you agree

I mean, you don't really think it's a good or a bad idea in

This situation you can say that you feel neutral about it

So how can you express [that] feeling?

Well for one you can say that you are not exactly sure about it

That tells people that you might agree or you might disagree, but you don't know yet

Another way to express that you are neutral about an idea is

To say you could go either way, or that there are?

Pros and [cons] to both options

These are useful expressions when you're not sure what you think

or when you don't want to support one side or the other too quickly and

if you really think that two sides of an idea or two choices are

perfectly equal

you can say it's a

toss-Up

This expression comes from tossing [a] coin

Which is a way of choosing between two sides

Now it's your turn to practice using these expressions

once again

You can repeat the example

[after] you hear them

Well, I'm not exactly sure about that yet

I could go either way on this

I think there are pros and cons to both options

To me, it's a toss-up

so we've worked through some great expressions for agreeing and

Showing [that] you feel neutral about an idea, but how does this sound in conversation?

Let's listen to a short dialogue between two [co-workers]

John and Lucas

John is discussing some ideas for the business and

Lucas agrees with him

So I think we need to focus on new customers

yes, that makes a lot of sense to me too and

Maybe we need a fresh ad campaign I

Couldn't agree with you more

Can you hear how lucas showed his agreement with John's ideas?

He said that the idea of focusing on new customers makes a lot of sense

That expression shows basic agreement

Then he agreed

Strongly with the idea of a fresh ad campaign saying he couldn't agree more

Now it's your turn to practice

Will repeat the dialogue, but this time we're going to beep out the second speaker's words

You will have to say those parts yourself

Remember to start by saying that the first idea makes a lot of sense

Then you'll say [that] you couldn't agree more

Here we go

So I think we need [to] focus on new customers

and maybe we need a fresh ad campaign

all right, so we've learned some great ways to agree with other people's ideas and

We've looked at how to show you are neutral about an idea

In our next lesson we'll look at how to disagree with an idea

until then so long and

Happy Learning