Establishing contacts
| I'm glad you've asked me that question.
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Agreeing
| Yes, indeed.
I think you are entirely right.
It appears to me to be true.
I agree that.... That's just what I think
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Disagreeing
| I am arguing against....
I would object just a little....
I object to....
I wish I could agree with you but....
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Expressing surprise
| It is rather surprising....
It is unbelievable....
I am puzzled by....
I wonder about....
I find it hard to believe that....
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Expressing uncertainty
| It seems unlikely that....
I have doubts about....
I am not at all sure about....
I am not yet certain....
I am doubtful whether....
I have been rather puzzled by....
I doubt it.
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Making contribution
| In connection with...
I would like to add....
Let me add that....
In addition, I would like to mention....
I would add that....
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Calling attention
| I want to point out that....
I would like to note....
I would like to stress the importance of.... It is worth pointing out that....
I would like to draw your attention to....
I would like to call attention to....
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Making assessment
| The paper raises an important question....
This method is particularly important because....
The paper demonstrates how important it is to....
These results/data are of principal interest.
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Starting a conversation
| As far as I know....
What I have in mind is that....
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Making remarks
| I'd like to make a comment on.
I would like to comment on....
I have a point to make.
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Provoking arguments
| Would you agree with...?
There seems to be some contradiction between your points of view.
Does that mean you think...?
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Asking for details/classification
| Could you be more specific about...? I am not clear about.... Could you give us/me some more facts to back that up, please?
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Introducing opinions/attitudes
| Well, I'd like to say that....
What I think is....
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Delaying an answer
| Well, let me see....
Well, now....
That's a good question....
Oh, let me think for a moment....
It is rather difficult to answer this question....
It's difficult to give you an exact answer,
but.... I'm not too sure, but.... I've no idea, I'm afraid.
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Avoiding answering
| I have no particular theory for this fact, but....
I'm terribly sorry, I really don't know. Actually, I don't know....
I'd rather not answer that, if you don't mind.
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