An alternative question gives a choice of two or more answers in the question and includesor:
Would you like[choice 1]some ice creamor[choice 2]some cake?
Forming alternative questions
With an auxiliary verb
We usually form alternative questions with an auxiliary verb (be, doorhave) + subject + main verb or with a modal verb + subject + main verb:
Are we eatingin or out this evening?(answer:We’re eating in. orWe’re eating out.)
Does she workin the city or in the suburbs?(answer:She works in the city. orShe works in the suburbs.)
Will they buya house or rent somewhere?(answer:They’ll buy a house. orThey’llrent somewhere.)
When we ask alternative questions using the main verbbe, we don’t use an auxiliary verb. The word order is:be+subject:
Isthis the front or the back of the dress?
Different types of alternative question
We can also ask alternative questions usingor not?This is a very direct question and sometimes it can express annoyance or impatience:
[choice 1]Are you coming[choice 2]ornot?
[choice 1]Do you want to go to the cinema[choice 2]ornot?
Alternative questions can be answered asyes-noquestions, depending on the context:
A:Are theretrains or busesfrom the airport to Belgrade?
B:Yes, there are. (There are both trains and buses.)
(orThere’s a train./There’s a bus.)
Alternative questions can bewh-questions:
Which do you prefer,with or without salt?
Which is best, to water the plantevery day or just once a week?
Reduced alternative questions (tea or coffee?)
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 answeryes:
A:Would you like mayonnaise or butter on it?
Possible responses:
B:Mayonnaise, please.
Butter, please.
Both, please.
Neither, thanks.(Neithermeans that you don’t want mayonnaise or butter.)
No, thanks.(Nomeans that you don’t want either alternative.)
Not:Yes.