aut (Or)

Level 2

Aut offers a choice.

How It Works

Pattern	Meaning	Example
aut	or	Venis aut manes? Are you coming or staying?
aut ... aut	either ... or	Aut oras aut laboras. Either you pray or you work.

Aut sets two choices apart, and one of them rules out the other. When two single names are joined by aut, the verb is often singular, because only one of them acts: Marcus aut Iulia venit.

Latin has other words for or. Vel and -ve, at Level 4, offer a choice that may stay open.

Compare aut with et. Et joins things that go together: Marcus et Iulia veniunt means both come. Aut sets one against the other: Marcus aut Iulia venit means only one comes.

Examples (5)

Marcus aut Iulia venit.
Marcus or Iulia is coming.
Aut joins two names, and the verb is singular.
Venis aut manes?
Are you coming or staying?
Aut joins two verbs.
Aut oras aut laboras.
Either you pray or you work.
Aut ... aut means either ... or.
Puella cantat aut saltat.
The girl sings or dances.
Aut joins the two things she might do.
Petrus aut Paulus docet.
Peter or Paul teaches.
Aut joins two names, and docet is singular.

How It Connects

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

aut (Or)Level 2Or

Learn This First

Aut joins words and sentences like sed, so sed comes first.

sed (But)But
Know sed, because aut also joins words and sentences.
Level 1

Words in This Pattern

aut

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