apa ... atau ...

Embedded Alternative Question

Level 4

Use apa ... atau ... (or the formal apakah ... atau ...) to present two or more possibilities inside a sentence, usually following verbs of doubt, inquiry, or decision.

How It Works

The pattern apa ... atau ... is essential for expressing uncertainty or reporting choices in Indonesian.

1. Structure and Register

  • Casual/Standard: apa ... atau ... is the most common form in daily speech.
  • Formal: apakah ... atau ... is a common choice in writing and formal contexts. Bare apa can also introduce an embedded alternative question; formality is a preference, not a universal requirement for -kah.
  • Highly Formal: apakah ... ataukah ... is sometimes used in literature to provide a balanced, rhythmic emphasis between the two choices.

2. Usage with Verbs
This pattern typically follows verbs that imply a question or a lack of knowledge, such as:

  • tahu (to know) — usually negated: tidak tahu
  • tanya / bertanya (to ask)
  • ragu (to doubt)
  • bingung (to be confused)
  • memutuskan (to decide)

3. The 'Or Not' Variation
When the choice is simply between doing something or not doing it, the second part is often atau tidak (or not) or atau bukan (if negating a noun).

Making An Indirect Question Clear
Saya bertanya apakah dia sudah sampai. (I asked whether he/she had arrived) explicitly marks an indirect question. Saya bertanya kalau dia sudah sampai. also occurs in speech; kalau can introduce a conditional or a reported clause, so interpretation depends on context. For an unambiguous question in standard writing, apakah is a useful choice. This is guidance about meaning and register, not a claim that every use of kalau here is ungrammatical.

Examples (4)

  1. Saya tidak tahu apa dia mau ikut atau tidak.

    I don't know whether he wants to come along or not.

    Word by Word: I not know whether he want follow or not.

    A standard spoken example using 'apa' to introduce the choice between coming or not.

  2. Pemerintah masih mengkaji apakah kebijakan ini akan dilanjutkan atau dihentikan.

    The government is still reviewing whether this policy will be continued or stopped.

    Word by Word: Government still review whether policy this will be-continued or be-stopped.

    A formal example using 'apakah' and passive verbs (di-) to present two policy options.

  3. Kita harus menentukan apakah ini sebuah peluang ataukah sebuah ancaman.

    We must determine whether this is an opportunity or a threat.

    Word by Word: We must determine whether this one-piece opportunity or-kah one-piece threat.

    A formal/literary example using 'ataukah' for stylistic balance between two nouns.

  4. Dia bertanya apa saya sudah makan atau belum.

    He asked whether I had eaten yet or not.

    Word by Word: He ask whether I already eat or not-yet.

    In Indonesian, when asking about completed actions, belum (not yet) is used instead of 'tidak' as the alternative.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing 'apa' in the wrong position.

    Saya tidak tahu dia apa datang.
    Saya tidak tahu apa dia datang.

    The marker 'apa' or 'apakah' must come at the beginning of the clause it is marking, not after the subject.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

apa ... atau ...Level 4Embedded Alternative Question

Learn This First

To use 'apa ... atau ...' for embedded alternative questions, you first need to understand the basic question word 'apa' and the conjunction 'atau' (or). It is also helpful to be familiar with how 'apa' or 'apakah' is used to frame yes-no questions, as this pattern adapts that logic into a choice between two specific options.

Words in This Pattern