Explanation

Used to present two or more alternatives and indicates a choice between them. It can be translated as 'or' or 'either...or'.

Personalized Lesson For You!

Key Formation

• Phrase A + それとも + Phrase B

  映画に行くそれとも買い物に行く (Go to the movies or go shopping)

• Verb A + それとも + Verb B

  食べるそれとも飲む (Eat or drink)

Example Sentences

• 明日は映画に行きますか、それとも買い物に行きますか？

  Are you going to the movies tomorrow, or are you going shopping?

  あしたはえいがにいきますか、それともかいものにいきますか？

  Ashita wa eiga ni ikimasu ka, sore tomo kaimono ni ikimasu ka?

  Pronunciation

• テストの勉強をしますか、それとも遊びに行きますか？

  Are you going to study for the test, or are you going to go out and have fun?

  テストのべんきょうをしますか、それともあそびにいきますか？

  Tesuto no benkyou o shimasu ka, sore tomo asobi ni ikimasu ka?

  Pronunciation

• このレストランでは、和食を注文しますか、それとも洋食を注文しますか？ (Japanese conversation)

  At this restaurant, are you going to order Japanese food, or are you going to order Western food?

  このれすとらんでは、わしょくをちゅうもんしますか、それともようしょくをちゅうもんしますか？

  Kono resutoran de wa, washoku o chuumon shimasu ka, sore tomo youshoku o chuumon shimasu ka?

  Pronunciation

• 明日は雨が降るかもしれない。外で遊ぶ、それとも家で過ごす？

  It might rain tomorrow. Play outside or stay at home?

  あしたはあめがふるかもしれない。そとであそぶ、それともいえですごす？

  Ashita wa ame ga furu kamoshirenai. Soto de asobu, sore tomo ie de sugosu?

  Pronunciation

• とりあえず、ビールそれともワインを飲みますか？ (Casual conversation)

  For now, are you going to drink beer or wine?

  とりあえず、びーるそれともわいんをのみますか？

  Toriaezu, biiru sore tomo wain o nomimasu ka?

  Pronunciation

Usage Notes

Notes and Tips for JLPT students

Related Grammar, and what's the difference?

• または (matawa) - (N2)
  - Both それとも (sore tomo) and または (matawa) can be used to present alternatives, but それとも (sore tomo) is more commonly used in everyday conversation, while または (matawa) is more formal.
• か (ka) - (N5 - N2)
  - か is a question particle that can be used to present alternative choices, but it is more commonly used in yes/no questions. それとも (sore tomo) is specifically used to present two or more alternatives.
• と (to) - (N5 - N2)
  - と is a particle used to indicate 'and' or 'with'. While it can be used to present alternatives, それとも (sore tomo) is more commonly used in this context.

Useful Vocabulary that appeared in this page

• * 明日 (あした)tomorrowPronunciation
• * 映画 (えいが)moviePronunciation
• * 買い物 (かいもの)shoppingPronunciation
• * テスト (てすと)testPronunciation
• * 勉強 (べんきょう)studyPronunciation
• * 遊び (あそび)play/funPronunciation
• * レストラン (れすとらん)restaurantPronunciation
• * 和食 (わしょく)Japanese foodPronunciation
• * 洋食 (ようしょく)Western foodPronunciation
• * 注文 (ちゅうもん)orderPronunciation
• * 雨 (あめ)rainPronunciation
• * 降る (ふる)to fall (rain)Pronunciation
• * 家 (いえ)house/homePronunciation
• * 足 (あし)foot/legPronunciation
• * ビール (びーる)beerPronunciation
• * ワイン (わいん)winePronunciation

Quiz

Which of the following means 'Are you going to watch a movie or go shopping?'

• 映画を見るか、それとも買い物に行きますか？
• 映画を見ますか、それとも買い物しますか？
• 映画を見るか、それとも買い物しますか？