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Coordinating Conjunctions “Or" and “Or Else” | (B-Level, Intermediate)

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We use the coordinating conjunction “or” to combine sentences or ideas that consist of choices or alternatives.

”Or” and “or else” can also express possibilities. “Or else" in particular expresses a negative or undesirable consequence.

 

”Or” — Showing Choices or Alternatives

We use the coordinating conjunction “or" to combine two sentences or ideas that show choices or alternatives.

Examples using “or” for alternatives

Between sentences

What would you like to do? You can read a book by yourself, or we can watch a movie together.

We can take the exam next class, or we can push it back until next week.

It’s up to you. You can come up with some excuse, or you can simply tell the truth.

Within a sentence

You can interpret the results of the study as disappointing or as an opportunity to study the phenomenon further.

  Attention! Use “or” in negative sentences

When the alternatives are in negative sentences, you must use “or” — not “and” — to combine the ideas. This happens in parts of the sentence rather than between complete sentences.

Jeremy does not speak French or Italian.

She hasn’t called me or emailed anyone about the incident.

Students must not cheat or help someone cheat.

In these examples, you can also make the verb affirmative and use “neither… nor.”

Jeremy speaks neither French nor Italian.

She has neither called me nor emailed anyone about the incident.

Students must neither cheat or help someone cheat.

”Or” or “Or Else” — Showing a Different Possibility

Depending on the context, using “or” to combine sentences or ideas expresses possibilities.

Examples using “or” or “or else” as possibilities

”Or” or “or else” as possibilities

These pairs of examples are very similar in meaning.

I don’t know why Mary is crying. She may be upset about something, or she just watched a sad movie.

… She may be upset about something, or else she just watched a sad movie.

 

I think I left my wallet in the office, or I lost it on the way home.

I think I left my wallet in the office, or else I lost it on the way home.

Mark has been spending a lot of money lately. He must have won the lottery, or he’s just being careless about his finances.

… He must have won the lottery, or he’s just being careless about his finances.

”Or” or “Or Else” — Introducing an Undesirable Result

“Or" or “or else” between sentences can show that the second sentence expresses an undesirable result of a choice. Depending on the context, it can show an undesirable consequence that would happen if you do not do something. Be mindful of this use of “or” or “or else” as it can come across as a threat.

Examples using “or” and “or else” for undesirable results

Expressing undesirable result

In the pairs of examples below, using “or else” puts extra emphasis on the bad result compared to using “or.”

Turn the oven off, or the roast will burn.
Turn the oven off, or else the roast will burn.

Bring your coat, or you will be cold.
Bring your coat, or else you will be cold.

Students should always take class notes, or they quickly forget what they learned.
Students should always take class notes, or else they quickly forget what they learned.

”Or else” as a threat

You must arrive on time, or else I won’t allow you to come in.

Complete your the assignment by tomorrow, or else you will receive a zero on it.

Follow the rules during the meeting, or else you will be asked to leave.

Omitting the consequence (conversational English)

In everyday, conversational language, you can use “or else” at the end of a sentence without revealing the consequence or threat. Be careful when doing this as it may sound offensive.

Children, finish your chores, or else!

You’d better apologize, or else.

I need to make some extra money, or else…

Up Next: Coordinating Conjunction “So”

Go to the next lesson to learn about the uses of the coordinating conjunction “so.”

Related Lessons

This lesson is part of a complete unit on coordinating conjunctions.

To cover the whole unit, use the “Unit Navigation” button below.

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