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Questions: alternative questions (Is it black or grey?)

An alternative question gives a choice of two or more answers in the question and includes or:

  • Would you like [choice 1] some ice cream or [choice 2] some cake?

Forming alternative questions​

With an auxiliary verb​

We usually form alternative questions with an auxiliary verb (be, do or have) + subject + main verb or with a modal verb + subject + main verb:

  • Are we eating in or out this evening? (answer: We’re eating in. or We’re eating out.)
  • Does she work in the city or in the suburbs? (answer: She works in the city. or She works in the suburbs.)
  • Will they buy a house or rent somewhere? (answer: They’ll buy a house. or They’ll rent somewhere.)
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When we ask alternative questions using the main verb be, we don’t use an auxiliary verb. The word order is: be + subject:

  • Is this the front or the back of the dress?

Different types of alternative question​

We can also ask alternative questions using or not? This is a very direct question and sometimes it can express annoyance or impatience:

  • [choice 1] Are you coming [choice 2] or not?
  • [choice 1] Do you want to go to the cinema [choice 2] or not?

Alternative questions can be answered as yes-no questions, depending on the context:

  • A: Are there trains or buses from the airport to Belgrade?
  • B: Yes, there are. (There are both trains and buses.)
  • (or There’s a train./There’s a bus.)

Alternative questions can be wh-questions:

  • Which do you prefer, with or without salt?
  • Which is best, to water the plant every day or just once a week?

Reduced alternative questions (tea or coffee?)​

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Sometimes in informal speaking, we make alternative questions shorter by just saying the alternatives:

  • A: Would you like a coffee?
  • B: That’d be great.
  • A: Black or white?
  • B: Black, please.
  • A: Are you renting an apartment in London?
  • B: Yeah, very near Paddington Station.
  • A: Sharing or on your own?
  • B: I’m sharing with some old friends.

Responding to alternative questions​

We can answer an alternative question in different ways, but we do not normally answer yes:

  • A: Would you like mayonnaise or butter on it?

Possible responses:

  • B: Mayonnaise, please.
  • Butter, please.
  • Both, please.
  • Neither, thanks. (Neither means that you don’t want mayonnaise or butter.)
  • No, thanks. (No means that you don’t want either alternative.)
  • Not: Yes.