arba ..., arba ...
Either ... or ...
arba A, arba B = either A or B. It presents one alternative or the other.
How It Works
It can join any two parts. Put arba in front of each choice. The choices can be words, phrases or whole clauses.
- Objects: Gersiu arba kavą, arba arbatą.
- Times: Susitikime arba šiandien, arba rytoj.
- Clauses: Arba tu ateisi, arba aš atvažiuosiu.
The comma. Put a comma before the second arba, and before each one after it. The repeated-conjunction pattern does not itself require a comma before the first: arba kavą, arba arbatą. Other repeated pairs work the same way: ir ..., ir ..., nei ..., nei ....
For "neither ... nor" use nei. Arba ..., arba ... offers alternatives. When neither happens, use nei ..., nei ...: Negersiu nei kavos, nei arbatos. (I won't drink coffee or tea.)
Don't mix it up with ar ..., ar ... That pair means "whether ... or" and comes at Level 4, as in ar ..., ar ...: Ar lyja, ar sninga, jis bėgioja. (Whether it rains or snows, he goes jogging.)
Examples (6)
- Arba tu ateisi, arba aš atvažiuosiu.
Either you come, or I will drive over.
- Gersiu arba kavą, arba arbatą.
I will drink either coffee or tea.
- Susitikime arba šiandien, arba rytoj.
Let's meet either today or tomorrow.
- Arba dabar, arba niekada!
Now or never!
Word by Word: Either now, or never!
- Mokėti galima arba grynaisiais, arba kortele.
You can pay either in cash or by card.
Grynaisiais (in cash) and kortele (by card) are both instrumental.
- Vakarais arba skaitau, arba žiūriu filmą.
In the evenings I either read or watch a film.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the comma before the second arba.
Gersiu arba kavą arba arbatą.Gersiu arba kavą, arba arbatą.A repeated arba always gets a comma in front of it, starting from the second one.
Using arba ..., arba ... to mean "neither ... nor".
Negersiu arba kavos, arba arbatos.Negersiu nei kavos, nei arbatos.To reject both drinks, use nei ..., nei .... With arba ..., arba ..., the original can instead present alternative things you will not drink.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Repeating arba emphasizes mutually offered alternatives.
Related Patterns
- nei ..., nei ...Neither ... nor ...
The negative pair: neither ... nor ....
Level 3 - ir ..., ir ...Both ... and ... with Ir
The "both ... and" pair uses the same comma rule.
Level 3 - ar ..., ar ...Whether ... or ...
Ar ..., ar ... can express whether ... or ... and can also present alternatives in other contexts.
Level 4 - ne ..., o ...Not This but That
Another two-part pattern, used to correct: not this, but that.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice arba ..., arba ... in Bubblegum
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