eller
Or
Use eller to connect choices or alternatives, just like 'or' in English.
How It Works
eller is one of the most fundamental conjunctions in Swedish, equivalent to the English 'or'. It's used to present choices and alternatives.
Connecting Words
You can use eller to connect words of the same type:
- Nouns: Vill du ha kaffe eller te? (Do you want coffee or tea?)
- Verbs: Ska vi läsa eller skriva? (Should we read or write?)
- Adjectives: Är den stor eller liten? (Is it big or small?)
Connecting Clauseseller can also connect two independent clauses to form a compound sentence. Each clause presents a different possibility.
- Example: Vi kan stanna hemma, eller vi kan gå på bio. (We can stay home, or we can go to the cinema.)
It's a straightforward word that functions very similarly to its English counterpart. It's essential for asking questions that offer choices and for expressing alternative possibilities in statements.
Answering An Eller Question
A choice question such as Vill du ha kaffe eller te? normally invites an option: Te, tack. But not every question containing eller is a choice question. Har du talat med Eva eller Anders? can ask whether you have spoken to either person; Ja is then a relevant answer. Stress, context, and the intended question determine the interpretation.
Examples (5)
- Vill du ha kaffe eller te?
Do you want coffee or tea?
Word by Word: Want you have coffee or tea?
- Vi kan äta nu eller senare.
We can eat now or later.
Word by Word: We can eat now or later.
- Är tröjan blå eller grön?
Is the sweater blue or green?
Word by Word: Is the-sweater blue or green?
- Jag vet inte om jag ska skratta eller gråta.
I don't know if I should laugh or cry.
Word by Word: I know not if I shall laugh or cry.
- Ska vi stanna hemma, eller ska vi gå ut?
Should we stay home, or should we go out?
Word by Word: Shall we stay home, or shall we go out?
Common Mistakes
Using and when you intend to ask which alternative someone prefers.
Vill du ha kaffe och te? (Intended: Which one would you like?)Vill du ha kaffe eller te?Both Swedish sentences are grammatical.
Ochasks about coffee and tea together;ellerpresents alternatives. For the intended choice question, useeller.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- ochAnd
Level 1ochmeans 'and' and is used to combine items, whileellermeans 'or' and is used to present alternatives. They are the two most basic coordinating conjunctions. - menBut
Level 1menmeans 'but' and is used to show a contrast. It's another core conjunction, often learned alongsideochandeller. - antingen...ellerEither...or
Antingen...eller explicitly organizes alternatives and often highlights a choice between them. Interpret the permitted choices in context rather than treating every use of eller as automatically excluding both.
Level 2 - ja/nejYes/no
A question asking which alternative is true normally invites the name of that option. A question asking whether either alternative is true can instead take ja or nej. The word eller alone does not settle the question type.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice eller in Bubblegum
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