Learn English – “wouldn’t agree” vs “don’t agree”

meaning

Could I say

"I wouldn't agree with you"

instead of saying

"I don't agree with you"?

If I could, in which situation should I use the construction "I wouldn't agree with you"?

I'm wondering if the "I wouldn't agree with you" version is more polite than 'I don't agree with you'.

Moreover, I often come across that people use it without an "if clause" or an "if clause" is removed. Why?

Best Answer

would has lots of meanings. The two that are relevant to this question are:

possibility: used with if in conditional sentences (= sentences that refer to what happens if something else happens)

opinion: used to express an opinion in a polite way without being forceful

The possibility option is appropriate when there is an if clause. It tends to be used about situations that are unlikely or impossible.

I would agree with you if it came to a vote - unlikely

If I were twenty years old again, I would agree with you - impossible

The polite opinion is appropriate if there is no if clause:

I would agree with you

or even more tentatively:

I would be inclined to agree with you.

Compare that with don't, where it is a simple statement of fact, with no attempt to be polite.

I don't agree with you

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