A 或者 B (or — in statements)
IntroducedA statement offers two acceptable drinks
- You say either tea or coffee is acceptable.
- tea茶or或者coffee咖啡都行。 — or或者 presents alternatives in a statement.
You say either tea or coffee is acceptable. What does 茶或者咖啡都行。 communicate?
或者 presents alternatives in a statement. For a direct alternative question use 还是: 你喝茶还是咖啡？. A yes-or-no question can contain 或者, as in 茶或者咖啡都可以吗？; questions are not all the same type.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is A or或者 B (or — in statements). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
I我drink喝tea茶or或者coffee咖啡。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Drink tea or coffee: 喝茶 ____ 咖啡。
A 或者 B = A or B in a statement: 喝茶或者咖啡.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, tea茶or或者coffee咖啡都行。: or或者 presents alternatives in a statement.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Which use fits 茶或者咖啡都行?
或者 offers alternatives here. A yes-or-no question can also contain 或者; direct alternative questions use 还是.
Build: “Drink tea or coffee.”
A 或者 B: 喝茶 + 或者 + 咖啡.
Know the boundary
- For a direct alternative question use or / still还是: you你to drink tea喝茶or / still还是coffee咖啡？.
- A yes-or-no question can contain or或者, as in tea茶or或者coffee咖啡all / both都can / may可以(yes/no ?)吗？; questions are not all the same type.
你喝茶或者咖啡? is the natural way to ask the choice.
A choice question uses 还是: 你喝茶还是咖啡?
In the opening situation: 或者 presents alternatives in a statement.
For a direct alternative question use 还是: 你喝茶还是咖啡？. A yes-or-no question can contain 或者, as in 茶或者咖啡都可以吗？; questions are not all the same type. 或者 presents alternatives in a statement.
Use the distinction
- or或者 presents alternatives in a statement.
- For a direct alternative question use or / still还是: you你to drink tea喝茶or / still还是coffee咖啡？. A yes-or-no question can contain or或者, as in tea茶or或者coffee咖啡all / both都can / may可以(yes/no ?)吗？; questions are not all the same type.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Conjunctions.
You say either tea or coffee is acceptable. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.