Useful Expressions to Use In Group Discussions and Conversations in English

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Expressions to use in group discussions in English! How do I complete a conversation or a group discussion from the beginning to the end?

Useful Expressions to Use In Group Discussions

1. When you start saying something / contributing to a conversation

• First of all, I would like to say/state that…
• To begin with, I…
• In the first line, I…

2. What can you say instead of “I think”  

• I would say/think,…
• In my opinion,…
• To my mind,…
• I am of the opinion that,…
• I hold the opinion that,…

3. When you want to stress your “personal opinion”:

• Personally I think,…
• As far as I am concerned,…
• As for me,…
• As I take it,…
• As far as I can see,…

4. When you “agree” or when you “don’t agree”:

• I entirely/quite agree with you.
• I agree to (with) her plan.
• I am of the same opinion.
• I differ from/with you entirely.
• I disagree with you: I am sure you’re mistaken.
• I stick to my opinion.
• Let’s agree to differ!

5. When you want to say the “opposite” of what someone else said:

• On the contrary! quite the contrary! just the opposite!
• That is the very opposite of what I said.
• That is quite contrary to what I said.
• I maintain the contrary.
• In contrast to what you said, I maintain that…

6. When you are “quite sure” of something:

• Of course!
• That goes without saying
• It goes without saying that
• I contend/maintain that…
• It’s my conviction that…

7. When you want to “ask a question”:

• May I interrupt you?
• There arises the question/point whether/if
• This question raises the whole issue.

8. When you “haven’t understood”:

• I beg your pardon./ Pardon?
• Could you repeat what you’ve just said? But slower, please./
• Could you slow down a bit?

9. If you should want to “correct a mistake”:

• Excuse me (for interrupting) you should have said:”…”