Sentence pattern · Band 3
或者 versus 还是: two kinds of or
A 或者 B / A 还是 B？
Two ors, split by job. 或者 works inside statements: tea or coffee, either is fine, no answer needed. 还是 works inside questions, holding out both options and waiting for you to pick one. Ask with 还是 and declare with 或者; nobody gets confused, including you.
Hear it in a sentence
Mistakes people make
A question offering a choice takes 还是; 或者 only works inside statements.
The two ors never ride together; pick the question or or the statement or.
Words in this pattern
Quick answers
What does 或者、还是 mean?
Two ors, split by job. 或者 works inside statements: tea or coffee, either is fine, no answer needed. 还是 works inside questions, holding out both options and waiting for you to pick one. Ask with 还是 and declare with 或者; nobody gets confused, including you.
How do you build it?
A 或者 B / A 还是 B？
What is the most common mistake?
你喝茶或者咖啡？ → 你喝茶还是咖啡？
A question offering a choice takes 还是; 或者 only works inside statements.
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