Explanation at your level:
When you agree, you say 'yes'. If your friend says 'I like pizza' and you like pizza too, you say 'I agree'. It is a very happy word because it means you are friends and you think the same way.
You use agree to show you are on the same side. If someone has a plan, you can say 'I agree to that plan.' It is very common in daily life when talking about where to go or what to do.
At this level, you start using agree with different prepositions. You agree with a person, but you agree to a proposal. It is useful for expressing your opinion in discussions or debates at work or school.
You will encounter more nuanced uses, such as 'agreeing on' a specific detail or 'agreeing that' a situation is problematic. It is often used in formal negotiations to signal that a compromise has been reached.
In advanced contexts, agree can imply a formal contractual state. You might hear 'it is generally agreed that...' to introduce a widely held academic or social consensus. It is a powerful tool for building logical arguments.
At the mastery level, you understand the subtle weight of agree in legal and philosophical discourse. It touches on the concept of 'concurrence' and 'assent.' It is used to describe the alignment of perspectives in complex, multi-layered social structures.
Word in 30 Seconds
- It means to think the same.
- It is a regular verb.
- Use 'with' for people.
- Use 'to' for actions.
At its core, agree is about alignment. When you agree with someone, you are essentially saying that your thoughts match theirs. It is one of the most fundamental social verbs in the English language.
Beyond just sharing opinions, we use it to confirm plans or accept conditions. If a friend asks to meet for coffee, saying 'I agree' (or more commonly 'I agree to that') shows you are on board with the suggestion. It is a bridge between two people finding common ground.
The word agree comes from the Old French word agrer, which literally means 'to make agreeable' or 'to please.' It traces back even further to the Latin ad- (to) and gratum (pleasing).
Historically, it was about creating a state of harmony. In the Middle Ages, if you were in 'agreement' with someone, it meant you were in a state of grace or pleasure with them. It has evolved from a feeling of 'pleasingness' to the modern, functional act of confirming facts or opinions.
You will hear agree used in many ways. You can agree with a person, or agree to a plan. Note that you don't usually say 'I agree' to an opinion without the preposition 'with'.
In formal business, we often use agree on a price or a date. It is a highly versatile word that works in both casual text messages ('I agree!') and complex legal contracts ('The parties hereby agree to the terms').
1. Agree to disagree: To accept that you will never reach a consensus. 2. See eye to eye: To be in full agreement. 3. Common ground: Finding points where you both agree. 4. On the same page: Being in agreement about the details. 5. Shake on it: To agree to a deal physically.
The verb agree is regular, forming 'agreed' in the past tense. It is pronounced /əˈɡriː/ in both British and American English, with the stress on the second syllable.
It is often followed by a to-infinitive (e.g., 'He agreed to go') or a that-clause (e.g., 'I agree that we should leave'). It rhymes with words like 'free', 'see', and 'degree'.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'grace'.
Pronunciation Guide
uh-GREE
uh-GREE
Common Errors
- pronouncing the 'g' as a 'j'
- stressing the first syllable
- adding an extra sound at the end
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Simple
Moderate
Easy
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Subject-Verb Agreement
He agrees.
Examples by Level
I agree with you.
I think the same.
agree with + person
Do you agree?
We agree on the time.
They agreed to play.
I agree with the teacher.
She agreed to help.
We all agree.
Please agree with me.
They agreed to meet.
We finally agreed on a price.
I agree that we need more time.
They agreed to the new rules.
I cannot agree with your methods.
He agreed to be the leader.
Do you agree with the policy?
We agreed to disagree.
They agreed to sign the contract.
It is widely agreed that health is vital.
They agreed upon a strategy.
I agree in principle, but not in practice.
The board agreed to the merger.
We agreed to share the costs.
He agreed to the terms of service.
They agreed to keep it secret.
I agree with your assessment.
The committee agreed to the proposed amendments.
Experts agree that climate change is urgent.
They agreed to a ceasefire.
I find it hard to agree with such a premise.
The parties agreed to settle out of court.
We agreed to differ on this point.
It was agreed that the project would continue.
They agreed to the conditions set forth.
The signatories agreed to the protocol.
They agreed upon a course of action.
The council agreed to the ratification.
He agreed to the stipulations of the will.
They agreed to a mutual understanding.
The scholars agreed on the interpretation.
We agreed to the arbitration.
They agreed to the terms of the treaty.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"agree to disagree"
stop arguing
Let's agree to disagree.
neutral""
""
""
""
""
Easily Confused
Both imply saying yes.
Accept is for objects/invitations.
I accept the gift.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + agree + with + person
I agree with my teacher.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Agree with is for people.
Tips
The 'With' Rule
Always use 'with' for people.
Business Meetings
Use 'agree on' for topics.
No 'Am'
Never say 'I am agree'.
Root Word
It comes from 'pleasing'.
Sentence Mining
Write 5 sentences using 'agree'.
Politeness
Use 'I agree' to build rapport.
Rhyme Time
Agree rhymes with degree.
Stress
Stress the second syllable.
Agreement
Use the noun 'agreement' for contracts.
Flashcards
Use 'agree with' vs 'agree to'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
A-GREE: A Great Reason Everyone Enjoys
Visual Association
Two people shaking hands
Word Web
Challenge
Ask a friend three questions today and try to agree with them.
Word Origin
Old French/Latin
Original meaning: to be pleasing
Cultural Context
None
Used frequently in business to close deals.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Business
- agree to terms
- mutually agree
- agree on a price
Conversation Starters
"Do you agree that technology is good?"
"What do you and your best friend agree on?"
"Is it hard to agree on a movie?"
"Do you agree with the school rules?"
"Why do people agree to disagree?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you agreed with someone.
Why is it important to agree?
Describe a situation where you disagreed.
How do you reach an agreement?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is 'I agree'.
Test Yourself
I ___ with you.
Agree is the correct verb here.
Which means to say yes?
Agree means to accept.
You agree with a plan.
You agree TO a plan.
Word
Meaning
Prepositions matter.
Subject-Verb-Prep-Noun.
Score: /5
Summary
Agreeing is the simplest way to build a connection with someone else.
- It means to think the same.
- It is a regular verb.
- Use 'with' for people.
- Use 'to' for actions.
The 'With' Rule
Always use 'with' for people.
Business Meetings
Use 'agree on' for topics.
No 'Am'
Never say 'I am agree'.
Root Word
It comes from 'pleasing'.
Example
I agree with you that the movie was very long.
Related Content
See it in Videos
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"I agree with you that the movie was very long."
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"I agree with you that the movie was very long."
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"I agree with you that the movie was very long."
This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
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synscribtion
C1The process of transcribing or recording text in real-time or in direct synchronization with an audio or video source. It often refers to collaborative, multi-user digital writing or live captioning where text is generated simultaneously with the spoken word.
wishes
B1Expressions of a desire or hope for something to happen, or for someone to experience something good. It can also refer to the things that someone wants or has requested.
quote
A1To repeat the exact words that another person has said or written. It can also mean to give an estimated price for a particular piece of work or service.
confirm
B2To provide evidence that verifies the truth or correctness of something previously uncertain or suspected. It also means to finalize an arrangement or a formal agreement to make it definite.
accentuate
C1To make a particular feature of something more noticeable or prominent. It is frequently used to describe how one thing emphasizes the beauty, importance, or intensity of another.
perceive
C1To become aware of something through the senses, particularly sight or hearing, or to interpret and understand a situation in a specific way. It often involves recognizing a subtle quality or identifying a deeper meaning beyond surface-level observation.
ancedine
C1Refers to something that is unlikely to provoke dissent or offense, often being intentionally bland, harmless, or inoffensive. In a secondary sense, it can describe something that has the power to relieve pain or distress.
misbrevtion
C1Describes a style of communication or documentation that is so excessively or poorly shortened that it becomes unclear or loses essential meaning. It is used to characterize brevity that sacrifices necessary detail for the sake of speed or space, often leading to confusion.
offer
A1To present something to someone so that they can choose to accept it or refuse it. It can involve giving a physical object, providing help, or suggesting a price or idea.
overphonate
C1To articulate speech sounds with excessive clarity, force, or duration, often resulting in an unnatural or exaggerated speaking style. This typically occurs when a speaker is trying too hard to be understood or is overly focused on phonetic accuracy.
