quer...quer...

Correlative Whether...Or

Level 6

The pattern quer... quer... is a formal way to link two or more alternatives. It is used to show that a result or situation remains the same regardless of which option is chosen.

How It Works

The expression quer... quer... belongs to the 'norma culta' (formal standard) of Portuguese. It is most frequently found in academic writing, legal texts, and formal literature.

1. Syntactic Usage:

  • Linking Words: It can link nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. In these cases, it often acts like 'both... and...' or 'whether... or...'.
  • Linking Clauses: When linking full actions, the verbs must be in the subjunctive mood (usually the Present Subjunctive or Imperfect Subjunctive).

2. Invariability:
Even though it looks like the verb querer (to want), in this context, it is a fixed conjunction. It never changes its form, unlike seja... seja, which can sometimes become plural.

3. Punctuation:
When connecting two clauses, a comma is mandatory between the first and second 'quer'. When linking single words within a sentence, the comma is usually omitted.

Examples (4)

  1. Quer ele aceite a proposta, quer a recuse, a nossa estratégia permanecerá inalterada.

    Whether he accepts the proposal or refuses it, our strategy will remain unchanged.

    Word by Word: Whether he accept the proposal, whether it [he] refuse, the our strategy will remain unchanged.

    Notice the use of the subjunctive (aceite/recuse) and the mandatory comma between the two clauses.

  2. O evento atraiu um público diversificado, quer de especialistas, quer de curiosos.

    The event attracted a diverse audience, both of specialists and of the curious.

    Word by Word: The event attracted a public diversified, whether of specialists, whether of curious [people].

    Here, the pattern links two nouns and carries an additive meaning, similar to 'both... and...'.

  3. A medida é necessária, quer por razões económicas, quer por motivos sociais.

    The measure is necessary, whether for economic reasons or for social motives.

    Word by Word: The measure is necessary, whether by reasons economic, whether by motives social.

    This example shows the pattern linking prepositional phrases in a formal justification.

  4. Quer chova, quer faça sol, o desfile acontecerá amanhã.

    Whether it rains or shines, the parade will happen tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Whether it rain, whether it make sun, the parade will happen tomorrow.

    A classic use of the present subjunctive to show indifference to weather conditions.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indicative mood instead of the subjunctive in clauses.

    Quer ele aceita a proposta, quer a recusa...
    Quer ele aceite a proposta, quer a recuse...

    In formal writing, clausal alternatives introduced by 'quer' require the subjunctive to reflect the hypothetical nature of the options.

  • Omitting the first 'quer'.

    Ele virá, quer chova ou faça sol.
    Ele virá, quer chova, quer faça sol.

    This is a correlative structure; both parts must be present to maintain the formal register and grammatical balance.

How It Connects

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

quer...quer...Level 6Correlative Whether...Or

Learn This First

The 'quer...quer...' construction is a correlative conjunction used to present two alternatives as equally valid (similar to 'whether...or' or 'either...or'). To understand it, learners should be familiar with basic conjunctions and the general concept of correlative structures where two words work together to link parts of a sentence.

Words in This Pattern