不是 … ，就是 … (either … or …)
IntroducedAn asserted pair of alternatives may still be mistaken
- A friend guesses someone is either reading or sleeping.
- he他either不是(doing)在sleep睡觉，or就是(doing)在read看书。 — The speaker presents those two alternatives as the possibilities.
A friend guesses someone is either reading or sleeping. What does 他不是在睡觉，就是在看书。 communicate?
The speaker presents those two alternatives as the possibilities. This is the speaker's account, which can be wrong. It does not prove that other activities are impossible in reality.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is either不是 … ，or就是 … (either … or …). 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.
he他either不是(doing)在sleep睡觉，or就是(doing)在read看书。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: He's either sleeping or reading: 他不是在睡觉，____ 在看书。
不是 + A，就是 + B = either A or B: 不是睡觉,就是看书.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, he他either不是(doing)在sleep睡觉，or就是(doing)在read看书。: The speaker presents those two alternatives as the possibilities.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
In 他不是在睡觉，就是在看书, what alternatives does the speaker present?
The speaker presents sleeping and reading as the alternatives. This account may be mistaken; the grammar does not prove that no other activity is possible.
Know the boundary
- This is the speaker's account, which can be wrong.
- It does not prove that other activities are impossible in reality.
不是…就是… says the answer is one of two.
The speaker asserts one of the two alternatives. The assertion is not independent evidence that the pair exhausts reality.
The wording itself proves no other activity is possible.
This is the speaker's account, which can be wrong. It does not prove that other activities are impossible in reality. The speaker presents those two alternatives as the possibilities.
Use the distinction
- The speaker presents those two alternatives as the possibilities.
- This is the speaker's account, which can be wrong. It does not prove that other activities are impossible in reality.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Sentence patterns.
A friend guesses someone is either reading or sleeping. 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.