utrum ... an (Either This or That?)

Either This or That?

Level 4

Start with utrum or add -ne to the first choice, then put an before the second.

How It Works

Pattern	Latin	English
utrum ... an	Utrum Romam an Athenas it?	Is he going to Rome or to Athens?
-ne ... an	Romamne an Athenas it?	Is he going to Rome or to Athens?
an alone	E caelo, an ex hominibus?	From heaven, or from men?

The second choice always starts with an. Do not use aut in these questions, because aut joins parts of a statement.

Utrum is a signal that two choices follow. It is not translated: only the question mark and the word or show it in English.

Utrum Romam an Athenas it?
Is he going to Rome or to Athens?
Utrum signals two choices, and an starts the second.
Romamne an Athenas it?
Is he going to Rome or to Athens?
The -ne on the first choice does the same job as utrum.
Dormisne an vigilas?
Are you asleep or awake?
Dormisne has -ne, and an starts the second choice.
Utrum canem an felem habes?
Do you have a dog or a cat?
The two choices are canem and felem.
Baptismus Ioannis unde erat? E caelo, an ex hominibus?
Where was the baptism of John from? From heaven, or from men?
From Matthew 21:25. An starts the second choice, with no utrum.

Using aut for the second choice.
Utrum Romam aut Athenas it?
Utrum Romam an Athenas it?
After utrum or -ne, the second choice starts with an. Aut is used for or in a statement.

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

utrum ... an (Either This or That?)Level 4Either This or That?

Utrum ... an and -ne ... an offer two choices in a question, so the -ne question comes first.

utruman-ne

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