Word choice · CEFR A2
“I am agree” or “I agree”? Which is correct?
Incorrect
I am agree
Correct
I agree
The correct form is “I agree”. Agree is a verb, so it does not need “am” in front of it. “I am agree” is one of the most common mistakes made by learners of English, especially speakers of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French.
The rule
In English, agree is a normal verb, like like or want. You would not say “I am like pizza”, so you do not say “I am agree”. Use it directly after the subject: I agree, she agrees, we don’t agree.
If you want an adjective, use in agreement: “We are in agreement.” That is correct but formal - in everyday conversation, “I agree” is far more natural.
Examples
✗ I am agree with you.
✓ I agree with you.
✗ She is not agree.
✓ She doesn’t agree.
Make the negative with do/does.
✗ Are you agree?
✓ Do you agree?
Make the question with do/does.
Why learners make this mistake
Many languages express agreement with “to be” plus an adjective or participle - Spanish estoy de acuerdo, Italian sono d’accordo, French je suis d’accord. Learners translate the structure word for word.
Remember
If you can replace it with “I think so too”, you need the verb: I agree.
Frequently asked questions
- Is “I am agreed” ever correct?
- Only in old-fashioned or very formal British English, usually as “we are agreed” meaning a group has reached a decision. In everyday English, use “I agree” or “we agree”.
- How do I say I partly agree?
- Use “I partly agree”, “I agree up to a point” or “I agree, but…”. All keep agree as a verb.
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