GRAMMAR DETAIL
それとも
Introduces another alternative after the first option in a question.
Examples
飲み物はお茶ですか。それとも、水ですか。
Would you like tea to drink? Or would you like water?
Words used
昼ご飯はそばにしますか。それともご飯にしますか。
Would you like soba or rice for lunch?
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
それともis a connector that introduces another alternative after one has been asked about. - Basic usage: It asks whether the first option or another option applies.
お茶ですか。それとも、水ですか。asks whether it is tea or water.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Alternatives rather than additions
そしてadds related information, whereasそれともasks about another possibility. The question is not a statement that both tea and water will be served.
- Link to the preceding question
- When the preceding utterance supplies an alternative, the next utterance can start with
それとも. All the options need not be inside one sentence.
- When the preceding utterance supplies an alternative, the next utterance can start with
- か between nouns
お茶か水links nouns as alternatives.それともconnects the flow of a question, so it cannot replace everyかbetween nouns.