Conversation Question: Silly Questions

from: conversation questions

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

1. What is your favorite way to eat a cockroach?

2. Who fell out of the apple tree?

3. Why did the ghost cry on Halloween Day?

4. Do you enjoy swimming when it is snowing?

5. Why don't you want Christmas presents this year?

6. How did you escape from the alien space ship?

7. How did you feel after watching television for 24 hours?

8. Would you ever wear your mother's dress to your all boys high school?

9. What is a typical day in the life of your dictionary (pet frog, walking shoes, classroom)?

10. Did your parents ever have children?

11. Would you rather kiss a crocodile or a bear?

12. What is on your mouse pad?

13. If you were a color, what would you be? Why?

Conversation Questions: Supernatural, Ghosts and Superstitions

from: conversation questions

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

Ghosts

1. Do you believe in ghosts?

2. Do you believe that dead people come back to life as ghosts?

3. Would you talk to a ghost?

4. Do you know anyone who has said that they have seen a ghost?

5. Have you ever come in contact with a ghost? (Have you ever seen a ghost?)

6. If one of your friends told you they had seen a ghost, would you believe him/her? Why/Why
not?

7. What is the scariest ghost story you know?

8. Is there an area where you live (park, house, etc.) that is known to be haunted? If so, what is the story or legend that makes people believe this area is haunted? Have you ever visited this place?

9. Do you believe that houses can be haunted? Have you ever been to one?

10. Do you believe that houses have ghosts in them sometimes?

11. Were you ever touched or physically harmed by a ghost or "spirit"? If so, how?

12. If you were a ghost who and where would you haunt?

13. How do you know if a ghost is near you?

14. If you don't believe in ghosts, then what have you heard other people say?

15. If you don't believe in ghost, tell why?

16. If you don't believe in ghost, and you actually have seen one, what were your reactions?

17. Have you ever felt that you knew a ghost that you saw?

18. If you were a ghost, who or what would you haunt?

19. Why do people say they see ghosts even though they sometimes do not?

20. Do you put any faith in the modern day ghost hunters?

21. Can you recall any strange or unexplained events in your life?

22. Do you believe your ancestors are watching you?

23. What do you about the image movies give us about aliens?

Superstitions

24. Do you think that there is truth behind superstitions?

25. Do you walk under ladders?

26. What are some superstitions in your country?

27. What are some things that are considered unlucky?

28. What are some things that are considered lucky?

29. What numbers are considered to be lucky and unlucky in your country?

30. A four-leaf clover is often considered lucky. What are some other things which are considered lucky.

31. Do you have a lucky number?

Psychics, Fortunetellers and Knowing the Future

32. Have you ever gone to a psychic?

33. If so, what were you told?

34. Did you believe it?

35. Why do some people consult psychics before doing important things?

36. Do you know anyone that has ever been to a psychic?

37. Why do some people need fortunetellers?

38. How do people predict the future in your country?

39. Do you believe in horoscopes?

40. Do you read your horoscope? If so, do you believe it?

41. Do you think that dreams come true?

42. Do you think that dreams can help us solve our problems?

43. Have you ever had a dream come true? / Have you ever had a dream that later came true?

44. Do you think that some people can predict the future?

45. What is your blood type?

46. Do you believe that you can tell a lot about a person from his/her blood type?

47. Do you believe that blood types can tell what a person's personality is?

48. Is the belief in UFOs, aliens, physic powers, etc, growing because belief in religion is dying?

49. What is your star sign?

50. Do you believe the predictions contained within your horoscope?

51. Are horoscopes important?

52. Do you read your horoscope often? Does it come true?

53. Does your star sign describe your personality traits well?

The Unexplained

54. Has anything ever happened to you that you cannot explain?

55. Do you believe that there are many things in our universe that cannot be explained? Give examples.

56. Do you believe that you are from another planet?

57. Do you believe you have supernatural powers there?

58. Have you ever tried to contact another planet?

59.Did you succeed?

Unsorted

60. Do you believe in reincarnation?

61. Have you ever felt that you knew someone the first time you met them?

62. Have you ever visited a foreign country or city for the first time and found that you knew exactly where things were?

63. Have you ever looked in the mirror and 'seen' a different face?

64. What do you think a spirit would look like?

65. Is the belief in UFOs, aliens, physic powers, etc, growing because the belief in religion is dying?

ESP

66. Do you believe in ESP?

67. How can a person know what kind of ESP abilities he/she has?

68. What do you think are some ways of developing these abilities?

UFOs

69. Do you believe that UFOs exist? / Do you believe in UFOs?

70. Do you know anyone who has said that they have seen a UFO?

71. Have you ever seen a UFO?

72. Do you know anyone who says that they have?

73. If you saw a UFO but were alone and had no proof would you tell anyone? Who?

74. Do you think that UFOs from other planets visit Earth?

75. What would you do if you were taken aboard a UFO?

76. Do you believe there is life on other planets?

77. Have you ever seen an E.T.?

78. Do you know anyone who says that they have?

Aliens

(Perhaps you should also explain that alien sometimes means a person from another country.)

79. Do you believe in aliens?

80. Do you think that you are an alien?

81. Do you think aliens are monsters?

82. If you saw an alien what do you would do?

83. Have you ever seen an alien?

84. Has anyone ever told you that he or she has seen an alien?

Other Questions

85. Are you afraid of spirits?

86. Do you believe in angels?

87. Do you believe in witches why or why not.

88. Do you believe in astrology? What is your astrological sign?

89. Do you believe in coincidences? Why or why not?

90. Do you believe in God? Why or why not?

91. Do you believe in life after death?

92. Do you believe in vampires? / Do you believe that vampires exist?

93. In many countries people believe in ghosts, spirits and dragons. Is this true in your country, and
why do you think these beliefs are so common?

94. What is the most frightening things that has ever happened to you?

QUESTIONS IN ALL CAPITAL LETTER (This is how they were submitted.)

95. WHAT IS THE MOST FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD?

96. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A CEMENTERY AT NIGHT? WHY? OR WHY NOT? WOULD YOU GO?

97. WHERE DO YOU THINK DEAD PEOPLE GO?

98. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE BAD ALIVE PAY THEIR BAD BEHAVIOR BY
STAYING HERE?

99. DO YOU THINK HEAVEN EXIST?

100. DO YOU THINK HELL EXIST?

101. HAVE YOU PLAYED QUIJA? WHY OR WHY NO? WOULD YOU PLAY?

102. DO YOU THINK THAT SPIRITS WHO APPEAR TO PEOPLE ARE GOOD OR BAD?

103. DO YOU BELIEVE IN ANGELS?

104. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONTACTED AN ANGEL? WHAT DID IT TELL YOU?

105. HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN A MIRACLE? WHAT WAS IT ABOUT?

106. DO YOU GET SCARED BY HORROR STORIES?

107. DO YOU THINK YOU CAN CALL DEAD'S PEOPLE SPIRIT BY MAKINS A SESSION WITH A WITCH?

Ghosts

108. WOULD YOU STAY THE NIGHT IN A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE SAY THAT THERE ARE GHOSTS? LIKE IN A VERY OLD UNINHABITED HOUSE, A CHURCH OR A SCHOOL?

109. HAVE YOU SEEN A GHOST? WHAT KIND OF GHOST? DID YOU GET TO TALK WITH IT?

110. HAVE YOU THOUGH ABOUT BECOMING A GHOSTBUSTER?

111. WOULD YOU BE SCARED IF A GHOST TALKED TO YOU?

113. DO YOU THINK WE CAN FEEL IF A GHOST IS NEAR OF US BY THE CHANGES IN THE WEATHER? LIKE IN THE MOVIE, THE SIXTH SENSE

114. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU SAW A GHOST?

Conversation Questions: Tell me about

from: conversation questions

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

1. Tell me about something you love.

2. Tell me about something you hate.

3. Tell me about something you really care about.

4. Tell me about someone you dislike.

5. Tell me about a dream you've had.

6. Tell me about a goal you have.

7. Tell me about yourself.


8. Tell me about your childhood.

9. Tell me about something you believe in.

10. Tell me about a place you've visited.

11. Tell me about an accident you've seen.

12. Tell me about a time when you were happy.

13. Tell me about a time when you were sad.

14. Tell me about a time when you were excited.

15. Tell me about a time when you were frightened.

16. Tell me about your favorite pastime.

17. Tell me about chocolate.

18. Tell me about rainy days.

19. Tell me about something beautiful.

20. Tell me about something ugly.

21. Tell me about something delicious.

22. Tell me about something pleasant.

23. Tell me about something boring.

24. Tell me about something with four legs.

25. Tell me about something with a tail.

26. Tell me about something spicy.

27. Tell me about your education.

28. Tell me about your work.

29.Tell me about a teacher you had.

30. Tell me about a boss you had.

31. Tell me about the hardest thing you ever had to do.

32. Tell me about a time you lied.

33. Tell me about something you regret.

34. Tell me about a mistake you made.

35. Tell me about someone in your family.

36. Tell me about your favorite book.

37. Tell me about someone you envy?

38. Tell me about something you've achieved?

Conversation Questions: What if?

from: conversation questions

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

1. If you had only 24 hours to live, what would you do?

2. If a classmate asked you for the answer to a question during an exam while the teacher was not looking, what would you do?

3. If someone's underwear was showing, would you tell them?

4. If the whole world were listening, what would you say?

5. If one song were to describe your life, what song would it be?

6. If you bumped your car into another car, but nobody saw you do it, would you leave your name and address?

7. If you could ask God any one question, what would it be?

8. If you could be a bird, what would you choose to be?

9. If you could be a plant, what would you choose to be?

10. If you could be a super-hero, which one would you be?

11. If you could be an animal, any animal, what animal would you be and why?

12. If you could be an animal, what would you be?

13. If you could be an animal, what would you choose to be?

14.If you could be another man or woman for a day, who would you choose?

15. If you could be another person for a day, who would you be?

16. If you could be invisible for a day what would you do and why?

17. If you could change one thing about your spouse or significant other, what would it be?

18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

19. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

20. If you could choose how you were going to die, what would you choose your death to be?

21. If you could choose to live on a different planet, which one would you choose?

22. If you could commit any crime and get away with it, what would you do?

23. If you could date a celebrity, who would you choose?

24. If you could have only one food for the rest of your life (assuming that this strange situation would not affect your health), which food would you choose?

25. If you could hear what someone is thinking for a day, who would you choose?

26. If you could live anywhere, where would you live?

27. If you could meet any famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

28. If you could speak any other language (besides English) which language would you like to speak?

29. If you could spend a day with any celebrity, who would it be and what questions would you ask that person?

30. If you could take a vacation anywhere in the world for any length of time, where would you go?

31. if you could go anywhere in the world for a holiday, where would you go?

32. If you could travel back in time, where would you go?

33. If you didn't have enough money to get the bus home what would you do?

34. If you discovered a new island, what would you name it and why?

35. If you got arrested for murder, whom would you call with your telephone call from prison? And why?

36. If you had an accident and you had to be at home to recover for a long time, what would you do to relieve the boredom?

37. What would you do if you were at home at night, alone, and you heard a noise in your flat/house that seemed to be footsteps? Would you stay calm or would you panic?

38. What would you do if you found the wallet of your next-door neighbor who you hated?

39. If you could have any car you wanted, which car would you choose? Would it be practical or flashy?

40. If your car broke down on the motorway, what would you do? Would you try to fix it yourself?

41.If you could solve the problem of hunger in the third world or repair the ozone, which would you do?

42. If you could stop a bad habit that you have, what would you stop?

43. If you could go back to any moment in history, where would you go?

44. If you could be famous (a household name), what would you like to be famous for?

45. If you were on holiday and you lost your passport, would you know what to do?

46. If you were offered a job in another part of the country, would you be willing to take the job, assuming that the pay is very good?

47. If your partner were offered a job in another part of the country, which was well paid, would you be willing to change places?

48. If you were in the bank and somebody started to hold up the bank, what would you do? How would you react?If you had one wish, what would you wish for?

49. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, which song would you choose?

50. If only one book existed, which book would you like it to be?

51. If you could do any job, what would you like to do?

52. If you could move anywhere, where would you like to live?

53. If you found a suitcase full of $1,000,000, what would you do?

54. If you found a wallet with £1,000 in it, what would you do?

55. If you had 25-hour days (while everyone else continued to have 24-hour days), what would you do with the extra time?

56. If you had one wish, what would it be?

57. If you had the opportunity to be different, what would you change?

58. If you had time machine, where would you go and why?

59. If you had to choose between a wonderful romantic relationship that would end after only a year, or a so-so relationship that would last your entire life, which one would you choose?

60. If you had to choose between love and no money or money and no love for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

61. If you had to choose, would you give up your sight or your hearing?

62. If you received lottery tickets as a gift at the office party, and you won $30,000.00, would you share the winnings with the person that gave you the gift?

63. If you saw a robbery, would you report it?

64. If you saw your zipper was down and people had noticed, what would you do?

65. If you speak two languages and your spouse (husband or wife) speaks only one, will you raise your children to be bilingual?

66. If you were a candy, what candy would you be?

67. If you were a monster, what monster would you be?

68. If you were a toy, what toy would you be?

69. If you were abducted by aliens, would you tell anybody? Why or why not?

70.If you were American/Chinese/Mexican, how would your life be different?

71. If you were asked to choose which time you would like to live in, which century would you choose?

72. If you were asked to speak to a graduating class, what would you say?

73. If you were given a chance to go to the moon, would you go? Why or why not?

74. If you were given a choice between being given great wisdom or great wealth, which would you choose?

75. If you were given an opportunity to be born again, in which country would you like to be born?

76. If you were given an opportunity to be born again, what kind of person would you choose to be?

77. If you were given one million dollars, what would you buy?

78. If you were given the opportunity to be born again, how would you change how you lived?

79. If you were given the opportunity to mold your partner the way you wanted, how would you mold your partner?

80. If you were given three wishes, what would you wish for?

81. If you were God, how would you transmit or let people know your message?

82. If you were going to a deserted island and could only take three things with you, what would you take? Why?

83. If you were invited to have tea with the Queen of England, what would say?
if you were the leader of your country, what would you change?

84. If you were the President, what problem or concern would you work on first?

85. If you were to be stranded on an island, which 3 things would you bring with you?

86. If you were told that you were going to die tomorrow, what would you do today?

87. If you were walking through the forest and you suddenly saw a tiger, what would you do?

88. If you woke up suddenly because your house was on fire, which three things would you save as you ran outside?

89. If you worked for a store and you saw another employee steal something, would you tell the manager?

90. If your friend could not have a child, would you carry her child for her?

91. If you saw someone in public with toilet paper stuck to their shoe, would you tell them?

92. If you could change one thing that you did that was bad,perhaps a crime or some wrong you did to another person,what would it be?

93. What kinds of problems would you have if you had to always tell the truth?

94. You were told you had a terminal illness and had six months to live. What three things would be most important for you to do?

95. Your doctor has just told you that you have a month to live, what would you do in that stretch of time?

96. If your doctor told you that you had only one month to live, how would you use the time left?

97. What if you have to sacrifice yourself for the sake of saving your mother? What would you do?

98. If you could live perfectly well without sleeping, if you had no need to sleep at all, how would you spend all your nights?

99. If you could be married with a foreign (man/woman), how do you think your life would change?

100. If you had a chance to choose a poor (man/woman) as a (husband/wife) from your culture or a rich (man/woman) from another culture, which would you choose?

101. If you got into traffic accident, what would you do at first?

102. If you could be God, what would you do for humanity?

103. If you could receive praise from a person, what person would it be?

104. What kind of praise would you like to receive?

105. If you were a color, what color would you be and why?

106. If you could be a crayon, What color and Why?

107. If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be and why?

108. If you had time machine and you could be transported to any time, the past or the future. What time would you choose?

109. If you could ask an All-Knowing Being one question about life, what would it be?

110. If you could have dinner with anyone (dead OR alive), who would you choose, and why?

111. If you could live forever on earth as it is now, would you? Why or why not?

112. If you could have a free chip put in your brain so that you would automatically be able to speak and understand another language besides English, which language would it be and why?

113. If you were the Queen or King of Britain for a day, what would you do?

114. If you were the President of the USA for a day, what would you do?

115. If you had to spend 100 days on a desert island, what five things would you take with you and why?

116. If you were down on your luck, would you seek the advice of a palm reader?

117. What would you do if you lost your bathing suit while you were swimming?

118. Imagine you woke up one morning to find you had switched bodies with someone you know. What would you do?

119. If you could have any one supernatural power (flying, being invisible), which would you choose and why?

120. What if your cell phone fell in the toilet, what would you do?

Conversation Question part 1

from: conversation questions

A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom.

Note: You can follow up most of these questions with a why or why not or with the question "In what situation(s) would you consider doing so?"

1. Would you ever adopt a child?

2. Would you ever give your child up for adoption?

3. Would you ever cheat on your husband/wife?

4. Would you ever consider being a criminal?

5. Would you ever consider being a farmer?

6. Would you ever consider getting plastic surgery?

7. Would you ever consider going bungee jumping? Would you ever consider going skydiving?

8. Would you ever defy your boss if he/she asked you to do something you didn't agree with?

9. Would you ever donate a kidney or another vital organ?

10. Would you ever donate blood?

11. Would you ever drive a car if you had forgotten your license at home?

12. Would you ever drive at night with only one headlight?

13. Would you ever drive your car with a flat tire?

14. Would you ever eat rat meat?

15. Would you ever eat rice with sugar?

16. Would you ever feed the animals at the zoo?

17. Would you ever get hair implants?

18. Would you ever give money to a charity?

19. Would you ever give money to a panhandler? (a beggar)

20. Would you ever go skinny dipping? (swim naked)

21. Would you ever lie to your children?
... to your husband/wife?
... your boyfriend/girlfriend?

22. Would you ever lie to help a friend?

23. Would you ever marry someone your parents didn't approve of?

24. Would you ever paint your living room black?

25. Would you ever pick up a hitchhiker?

26. Would you ever slap someone for something they said?

27. Would you ever smoke in a no smoking area?

28. Would you ever spank your child?

29. Would you ever steal from your family or friends?

30. Would you ever "take a bullet" for someone else?

31. Would you ever walk downtown without any shoes on your feet?

32. Would you ever walk home alone at night?
... in this country?
... in your own country?

33. Would you eat a live cricket for $500? If not, how much would it take?

34. Would you ever consider killing yourself?

35. Would you ever eat human flesh?

36. Would you ever resort to cannibalism if it were the only option left to stay alive?

37. Would you divorce your husband/wife if your favorite celebrity wanted to marry you?

38. Would you name your children after favorite characters in movies or books? Would you do so if the names were strange, as in science fiction movies or books?

39. Would you ever pull over and help someone on the side of the road?

40. Do you think this could be dangerous to do?

41. Would you ever say yes to someone even if you meant no?

42. Would you ever donate an organ in order to save other person's life?

43. Would you ever consider plastic surgery if a friend suggested it to you?

44. Would you ever consider writing your own book?

45. Would you ever try staying in the jungle for a month?

46. Would you ever consider surrogacy?

47. Would you ever consider being a surrogate mother yourself?

48. Would you ever consider egg or sperm donation?

49. Would you ever pretend to be someone (like a policeman, or a teacher, or a survey taker) just to get something that you wanted?

Agreement and Disagreement

Agreement, disagreement and ... the English soul

By Olga Mindrul, Moscow State University

The way people agree or disagree in an argument or discussion varies in different languages. A lot here depends on the national cultural and traditional background of the speaker. The English are not as straightforward in expressing their opinion as Russians are, for example. The word which describes the English way of speaking and behaving in the best way is probably the word “reserved”. If you look it up in the dictionary, you’ll find a sentence that says it all: “An Englishman is very reserved, quiet, always discreet” (COLLINS COBUILD ENGLISH LANGUAGE DICTIONARY).

George Mikes in “How to be an Alien” wrote in a humorous way about these typical features of the English, which are reflected in the use of the language: “The English have no soul, they have understatement instead”. Understatement in proposing, according to George Mikes, “takes the form of “I say… would you". If it is an indecent proposal it is "I say… what about…".

In agreement and disagreement one should remember about understatement as an important underlying principle of wording what you think.

Agreement and disagreement are types of affirmation and denial in which the expression of JUDGEMENT or OPINION rather than the assertion of FACT is involved. It is all the more necessary not to offend standards of politeness when the other person’s judgement is in question.


AGREEMENT

In agreeing with an unfavourable opinion, you may wish to qualify your agreement with an expression of regret, etc.

His speech was boring / Yes, I am afraid it was.
I have to agree that it was.
\ I must say I found it so.


In other cases, you can be as enthusiastic as you like in emphasizing your agreement.

It was an interesting exhibition, wasn’t it? – Yes, it was superb/absolutely splendid!
A referendum will satisfy everybody. – Yes, definitely/quite/absolutely/I absolutely agree/I couldn’t agree more/I quite agree/ I agree entirely.

A referendum will not satisfy everybody. – Definitely not/It certainly won’t/You are absolutely right, it won’t/ I agree that it won’t.

It’s good practice and it’s good fun. – Exactly.
I feel I ought to give her a hand – Oh, quite, quite.
I must do something, though – Yes, I quite agree.
There is far too much attention being paid to these hoodlums – Yes I couldn’t agree more.
The public showed that by the way it voted in the General election – That’s quite true.
We reckon that this is what THEY would have wanted us to do. – I think you are absolutely right.

You can show that you agree strongly with someone’s description of something by repeating the adjective they have used and using "very" in front of it. You usually use “indeed” after the adjective.

It was very tragic, wasn’t it – Very tragic indeed.
The pacing in all these performances is subtle, isn’t – Oh, very subtle, indeed.

Other ways of expressing agreement are:

That’s just what I was thinking.
You know, that’s exactly what I think.
That’s a good point.

Partial agreement.

If you agree with someone, but not entirely or with reluctance, you can reply “I suppose so”.

I must have a job – I suppose so.
That’s the way to save lives, and save us a lot of trouble? – I suppose so.

If you are replying to a negative statement, you say, “I suppose not”.

Some of these places haven’t changed it – I suppose not.

Qualified agreement

In discussion and argument, there is often a need to agree with one aspect of a speaker’s view, and to disagree with another. Here are some of the methods you might use to express this sort of qualified agreement:

Certainly it’s true that …, but on the other hand…
I can see that…. But surely…
I am in total agreement with you about… but we also have to consider….
Agreed, BUT if we accept… then it must also be true that…

Corroboration

We can also agree, and add a further point to corroborate or confirm the argument
Yes, and in fact….
Yes, and what is more…
I agree, and in fact one might go so far as to say…
Absolutely. Actually, I would go further, and say…

DISAGREEMENT

Notice that you need to be very polite when disagreeing with someone in English – even someone you know quite well. When you deny or contradict what someone else has stated, the effect is often impolite, unless the denial is qualified in some way. You can qualify it by an apology or by adjusting to the speaker’s point of view:

English is a difficult language to learn.
-I am afraid I disagree with you: some languages are even more difficult, I think.
Or
- TRUE, but the grammar is quite easy.
Or
-Yes, but it’s not so difficult as Russian.
Or
-Do you think so? Actually, I find it quite easy.


The commonest ways to express disagreement are as follows:

Yes, that’s quite true, but…
I’m not sure I quite agree.
Well, you have a point there, but…
Perhaps, but I don’t think that…
I see what you mean, but…

Rather than simply expressing complete disagreement, people usually try to disagree politely using expressions, which soften the contradictory opinion they are giving "I don’t think so" and "Not really" are the most common of these expressions.

It was a lot of money in those days – Well, not really.
It’s all over now, anyway. – No, I am afraid I can’t agree with you there.

People often say “Yes” or “I see what you mean”, to indicate partial agreement and then go on to mention a point of disagreement, introduced by “but”.

You’ve just said yourself that you got fed up with it after a time. - Yes, but only after three weeks.
It’s a very clever film. – Yes, perhaps, but I didn’t like it.
They ruined the whole thing. – I see what you mean, but they didn’t know.

Strong disagreement

If you know someone very well you can disagree more directly using expressions like these:

I can’t agree with you there.
You can’t be serious!
Come off it!
Don’t be silly!

You should be very careful when using them, in order to avoid offending people.

That’s very funny – No, it isn’t.
You were the one who wanted to buy it – I am sorry, dear, but you are wrong.

More formal ways

University education does divide families in a way – I cannot go along with that.
There would be less guilt which characterized societies of earlier generations. – well I think I would take issue with that

When it comes to the state of this country, he should keep his mouth shut – I wholly and totally disagree.
He wants it, and I suppose he has a right to it – Rubbish.
He said you plotted to get him removed - that’s ridiculous.

Learning to express agreement and/or disagreement with someone’s views and opinions can be part of assertion training, which has gained increasing recognition in recent years. Its aim is to help people express themselves more effectively and appropriately.

The following three types of behavior are identified:

1. Non-assertive behaviour – failing to express your feelings, needs, opinions, or preferences, or expressing them in an indirect or implicit way. For example, agreeing to activities you are not really interested in or failing to ask for a favour even though one is needed/ Statements like “I suppose we could go to the cinema”, or “I wish I knew someone who could help me repair my car” represent indirect or implicit statements in which the other person must infer what the needs and opinions of the speaker really are. One difficulty with this type of communication is that it is open to varying interpretations and is therefore easily misunderstood.

2. Aggressive behaviour – expressing your feelings or opinions but in a punishing, threatening, demanding or hostile manner. There is little or no consideration of the feelings or rights of the other person. In addition, the person who behaves aggressively assumes little responsibility for the consequences of his/her action.
E.g. You’d better lend me $5.
You are going with me whether you like it or not.

3. Assertive behaviour – expressing your feelings, needs, legitimate rights or opinions honestly and directly without being aggressive to others, without infringing on their rights and without expecting the other person to read your mind. Assertive behaviour is not designed primarily to enable an individual to obtain what he/she wants. Rather its purpose is the clear, direct and inoffensive communication of one’s needs opinions and so on. To the extent that this is accomplished, the probability of achieving one’s goals without denying the rights of others increases.

from: Hello Online