Difference between revisions of "Expressing "either... or..." with "yaome""
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| − | You can give a series of alternatives by using 要么. The structure is pretty versatile, as you can put a wide variety of things after each 要么: | + | You can give a series of alternatives by using 要么 (yàome). The structure is pretty versatile, as you can put a wide variety of things after each 要么: |
==Structure== | ==Structure== | ||
Revision as of 03:52, 2 July 2013
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You can give a series of alternatives by using 要么 (yàome). The structure is pretty versatile, as you can put a wide variety of things after each 要么:
Structure
要么 + [option A] + 要么 + [option B]
Examples
Firstly, you can use an adverbial (extra information about the verb such as time, manner or place). Some examples:
- 你 要么 今天 过来 ，要么 后天 过来 。You can either come back today or the day after tomorrow.
- 咱们 要么 说 汉语，要么 就 别 说话。We'll either speak Chinese or another language.
Secondly, different objects can be given as options:
- 我们 要么 喝 葡萄酒，要么 喝 啤酒。We either drink wine or we drink beer.
Different subjects also work:
- 要么 你 去，要么 我 去。Either you go or I go.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 158) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 165) →buy
