Different Viewpoints – Agreement

Agreement, disagreement, and opinions can be expressed briefly and categorically, often by one or two words, but in other contexts it may be important to phrase your point of view tactfully. Of course, paralinguistic gestures and facial expressions can play an important role in conveying your precise feelings.

Agreement

To convey immediate agreement in conversation:

• Oui, d’accord. | Yes, that’s alright/OK.
• Oui, tout à fait. | Yes, exactly.
• C’est vrai. | That’s right.
• Bien entendu. | Of course.
• Evidemment. | Obviously.
• Effectivement. (Formal) | Exactly.
• C’est exact. (Formal) | Precisely.
• Certes. (Formal, and can suggest a concession) | I’d agree.

To elaborate on the fact that you agree when talking informally:

Remember the distinction between avoir raison (a person in the right) and être juste (something is right/accurate).

• Je crois que tu as raison. | I think you’re right.
• Oui, c’est juste, il est déjà parti. | Yes that’s right, he already left.

There are a number of expressions of agreement which include the words d’accord or accord:

• Alors, tu es d’accord pour demain ? (Colloquial) | It’s OK by you for tomorrow then?
• Nous sommes d’accord sur ce problème. | We’re in agreement about this problem.
• Ils sont tombés d’accord quand ils se sont parlé. | They agreed/came to an agreement when they met.
• Il faut nous mettre d’accord sur la date. | We’ll have to agree/come to an agreement on the date.
• Mon père a donné son accord. | My father’s agreed/said yes.

In more formal conversations or in writing, agreement can be expressed by the following:

• Vous avez raison de dire que nous devrions nous méfier du sondage.
  • You’re right to say we should not trust the opinion poll.
• Je suis prêt à vous apporter/accorder mon soutien.
  • I’m willing to give you my support.
• Notre société est favorable à cette proposition.
  • Our company is agreeable to this proposal.
• Ayant regardé le dossier, je trouve votre demande tout à fait acceptable.
  • Having looked at the file, I find your request quite acceptable.
• Vous acceptez les grands lignes du projet ?
  • Do you accept the outline of the project?
• Nous adhérons aux conclusions apportées par nos recherches.
  • We stand by the conclusions drawn from our research.

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I hope everyone is doing well. 🙂

A la prochaine…

Courtney

Personal Tastes – Indifference

To express likes, dislikes, and preferences, French has a range of verbs and adverbial phrases. In most cases, adverbs can be added which express a more precise shade of feeling. Note that structures on the lines of “to like/dislike/prefer someone to do something” require the use of the subjunctive. This is part 4 of 4.

It is important to distinguish between polite expressions suggesting you are equally happy to do any of the things under discussion and statements of a total lack of interest.

Polite expressions include:

• C’est comme vous voulez. Ça m’est complètement égal.
  • It’s up to you. I don’t mind at all.
• Je n’ai aucune préférence. (More formal)
  • I have no particular preference.
• Oui, n’importe lequel.
  • Yes, I don’t mind either/whichever.

To express a lack of interest:

• Ça ne me dit rien. (Colloquial)
  • It doesn’t appeal to me.
• Bof ! (Colloquial – followed with a shoulder shrug)
  • I couldn’t care less.

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I hope you’re all doing well!

A la prochaine,

Courtney

Personal Tastes – Preferences

To express likes, dislikes, and preferences, French has a range of verbs and adverbial phrases. In most cases, adverbs can be added which express a more precise shade of feeling. Note that structures on the lines of “to like/dislike/prefer someone to do something” require the use of the subjunctive. This is part 3 of 4.

As well as the verb préférer, French commonly uses the expressions aimer mieux (personal preference) and valoir mieux (general suitability/preferability).

• Tu préfères y aller tout de suite ou plus tard ?
  • Would you prefer to go there right now or later?
• Ils préfèrent qu‘on ne fasse pas de bruit après dix heures.
  • They prefer us to not make any noise after ten o’clock.
• Ils aiment mieux réserver à l’avance.
  • They prefer to make an advance booking.
• J’aime mieux que vous me parliez directement.
  • I’d prefer you to speak to me personally.
• Il vaut mieux lui téléphoner.
  • It’s better/preferable to call him/her.
• Il vaudrait mieux que vous reveniez demain.
  • It would be better if you cam back/could come back tomorrow.

Preferences can also be expressed by the following verbs or adverbs:

• Le Conseil Municipal a privilégié les transports collectifs. (Formal)
  • The city council has given priority to public transport.
• Je penche pour une solution plus simple.
  • I tend to favour a simpler solution.
• Elle travaille le soir de préférence.
  • She prefers to work in the evening.
• Je prendrais plutôt celui-là.
  • I’d rather take that one.
• Ils aiment autant l’un que l’autre.
  • They like both equally.

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I hope everyone is doing well. Have a good week. 🙂

Merci à vous,

Courtney

Personal Tastes – Dislikes

To express likes, dislikes, and preferences, French has a range of verbs and adverbial phrases. In most cases, adverbs can be added which express a more precise shade of feeling. Note that structures on the lines of “to like/dislike/prefer someone to do something” require the use of the subjunctive. This is part 2 of 4.

As well as the idioms that I will go over, the phrases used to express likes can be used in the negative to express dislikes. As indicated, expressions of dislike range from the formal to the markedly colloquial.

To express strong dislike, use détester, not haïr. The latter is almost totally confined to literary style.

• Il déteste les réunions que durent trop longtemps.
  • He hates meetings which last too long.
• Elle déteste qu‘on la fasse attendre.
  • She hates to be kept waiting.
• Le ton de cette lettre me déplaît. (Formal)
  • I do not like the tone of this letter.
• Il m’est pénible de vous faire cette réflexion. (Formal)
  • I do not like having to make this criticism of you.
• Nous avons trouvé cette brochure affreuse.
  • We thought this brochure was terrible.
• Il a pris ses nouveaux collègues en grippe. (Colloquial)
  • She’s taken a dislike to her new colleagues.
• J’ai horreur des grands immeubles. (Colloquial)
  • I can’t stand tall apartment buildings.
• Je supporte très mal les longs voyages en car.
  • I’m no good at long car rides.
• L’idée ne m’emballe pas. (Colloquial)
  • I’m not crazy about this idea.
• C’est pas terrible. (Colloquial)
  • It’s not much good.
• Franchement, ça ne me dit rien. (Colloquial)
  • To be honest, it’s not my scene.

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I hope you all are doing well. 🙂

A bientôt,

Courtney