Posted inN3 Grammar

それとも: Offering Choices and Alternatives in Japanese (JLPT N3)

Posted inN3 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

“Or”, “or else”. Used to present a second option or alternative.

🎯 Primary Function

To connect two distinct questions, clauses, or ideas, offering a choice between them.

📋 Grammar Structure

Sentence/Clause A. それとも Sentence/Clause B ?

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Less common in very formal written or spoken Japanese. Alternatives like あるいは or または are often preferred.

😊 Informal Situations

Frequently used in everyday conversation and informal settings.

✍️ Written Language

Often seen in informal writing, emails, or casual dialogue in novels/manga. Less common in formal essays or reports.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Very common and natural.

💡 Common Applications

Offering choices in questions
Used to ask the listener which of two presented options they prefer or choose.
Example: コーヒーにしますか、それとも紅茶にしますか？ (Would you like coffee, or tea?)
Presenting alternatives
Can also be used to present two alternative statements or possibilities, although its primary use is for questions.
Example: 彼は忙しいのかもしれない。それとも、ただ連絡したくないだけか。 (He might be busy. Or maybe he just doesn’t want to contact me.)
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📊
Frequency
Common in everyday spoken Japanese.
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N3
Example Sentences
今日の夜、時間がありますか？ それとも明日の方が都合がいいですか？
Do you have time tonight? Or would tomorrow be more convenient?
この本を借りますか？ それとも買いますか？
Will you borrow this book? Or will you buy it?
電車で行きますか？ それともバスで行きますか？
Will you go by train? Or will you go by bus?
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Usually connects two complete phrases or sentences.
Unlike か which can connect nouns or short phrases within a single sentence, それとも typically links more substantial clauses or stands between two separate questions/statements.
Example: (Correct) 飛行機で行きますか？ それとも新幹線で行きますか？ (Incorrect) 飛行機それとも新幹線で行きますか？
Primarily used for asking questions.
While it *can* link statements of possibility, its most common and natural usage is to present alternative options within a question.
Example: 雨が降るかもしれない。それとも晴れるかもしれない。(Possible, but less common than using かもしれない twice or other phrasing) vs. 明日は晴れますか？ それとも雨ですか？ (Very common).

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using それとも to list items within a single clause.
✅ Use か or とか/や for listing nouns or items.
それとも is used to connect larger ideas or questions, not simple lists of items. Example: リンゴ**か**バナナ (apple or banana), not リンゴそれともバナナ.
❌ Using it in very formal written documents.
✅ Use あるいは (arui wa) or または (mata wa) in formal written contexts.
それとも has a more conversational feel compared to あるいは and または.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral; the politeness is determined by the surrounding sentence structure (e.g., using -ますか/でしょうか makes it polite).
Social Situations: Common in everyday interactions, shopping, making plans, confirming details.
Regional Variations: Generally standard Japanese, no significant regional variations in usage.

🔍 Subtle Differences

それとも vs か
か is used within a sentence to connect words, phrases, or clauses (AかBか?). それとも connects more independent clauses or sentences (A? それとも B?).
When to use: Use か for shorter options within one sentence. Use それとも to present alternatives between two more complete thoughts or questions.
それとも vs または (mata wa) / あるいは (arui wa)
または and あるいは are generally more formal and often used in written language or formal speech/presentations. それとも is more casual and common in everyday conversation.
When to use: Use それとも in casual conversation. Use または/あるいは in formal writing, instructions, or formal speech.
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📝 Conjugation Notes

それとも is a conjunction, so it does not conjugate. It connects clauses or sentences.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced “sore-tomo”. The pitch accent is typically flat.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of それ as “that one” and とも as “along with/also”. So, “that one, or along with it (as an alternative), this one?”. Or simply remember it connects two distinct choices or questions.

Practice Exercises
今日のランチは何にする？______ パスタ？
か
そして
それとも
だから
東京タワーに行きますか？ ______ スカイツリーに行きますか？
か
それで
それとも
しかし
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