coudn't agree with you more

[mochimochi]

Hi, everyone. how are you? It's very hot and humid in Japan now.

I have a question about "could".

This is a question on a Japaniese university entrancd examination.

Which sentence has the nearest meaning ?

I couldn't agree with you more.

1. I could never agree with you
2. I could partially agree with you.
3. I could totally agree with you.
4. I couldn't understand you.

The answer is 3.

I think "I couldn't agree with you more." means "I entirely agree with you."

"I could totally agree with you." means "I might totally agrre with you."

So there is no answer, isn't there?

[2006]

#3 is correct if you remove "could". "I couldn't agree with you more." means I totally agree with you. (='I entirely agree with you.)

"I couldn't agree with you more." is said when one already (totally)(completely) agrees. It is then impossible to agree (even) more.

[mochimochi]

Thank you 2006. I understand.

Does "I could totally agree with you" mean " I don't totallly agree with"?

[2006]

Originally Posted by mochimochi

Does "I could totally agree with you" mean " I don't totallly agree with"?

No, it doesn't mean that. "could" expresses possibility but a native speaker
would essentially never say that sentence, so I would forget about it.

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by mochimochi

Hi, everyone. how are you? It's very hot and humid in Japan now.

I have a question about "could".

This is a question on a Japaniese university entrancd examination.

Which sentence has the nearest meaning ?

I couldn't agree with you more.

1. I could never agree with you
2. I could partially agree with you.
3. I could totally agree with you.
4. I couldn't understand you.

The answer is 3.

I think "I couldn't agree with you more." means "I entirely agree with you."

"I could totally agree with you." means "I might totally agrre with you."

So there is no answer, isn't there?

You are absolutely right in your interpretation of the sentence in question.

"I could totally agree with you" doesn't really mean anything, but if it did it would mean what you say it means.


Say:

So there is no answer, is there?

You should choose 3 even though it is wrong.


~R

[mochimochi]

Thank 2006 and Ronbee a lot.

Your answers are very helpful. I understand "I could totally agree with you." means nothing.