eng7-6.6· Unit 4· ~20 min

Alternative Questions

Questions that offer two or more choices with or

An alternative question asks the listener to choose between two or more options joined by 'or'. The full question pattern practised here starts with the question verb: a form of be, an auxiliary such as do, does, did, or will, or a modal such as can or should. Use the form that matches the sentence: 'Does your sister eat eggs or cereal?', 'Did you travel abroad or within Azerbaijan?', 'Were they at home or at school?', and 'Will you go in the morning or in the afternoon?' The alternatives can be things, people, places, times, or other details. A question can also put the alternatives in the subject: 'Will Jane or Julia join us next week?' To answer the choice being asked, name the selected option.

Key terms

alternative question — a question that offers two or more answer options joined by 'or'.
option — one of the choices offered in the question.
auxiliary verb — a question-forming verb such as do, does, did, or will.
modal verb — a verb such as can or should that can begin an alternative question.
form of be — am, is, are, was, or were, placed before the subject in these questions.
subject alternatives — two possible subjects joined by 'or', as in 'Will Jane or Julia join us?'
Alternative-question forms
FormPatternExample
Present SimpleDo/Does + subject + base verb + options?Does your sister eat eggs or cereal?
Past SimpleDid + subject + base verb + options?Did you travel abroad or within Azerbaijan?
BeAm/Is/Are/Was/Were + subject + options?Were they at home or at school?
Future SimpleWill + subject + base verb + options?Will you go in the morning or in the afternoon?
ModalCan/Should + subject + base verb + options?Should I wear a coat or a jacket?

Each form begins with its question verb and offers options joined by 'or'.

What the alternatives can identify
Choice typeExample questionPossible answer
ThingDo you like tea or coffee?Tea.
PlaceDid you live in a city or a village?In a village.
TimeDid it happen yesterday or last week?Last week.
PersonWill Jane or Julia join us?Julia.

Answer the requested choice by naming one of the offered options.

✎Change a Present Simple statement into a question
  1. 1Statement: My sister eats eggs or cereal for breakfast.
  2. 2Question verb: The subject is 'my sister', so begin with Does.
  3. 3Base verb and options: Does your sister eat eggs or cereal for breakfast?
✎Build a Past Simple alternative question
  1. 1Choose did: The question asks about a completed past trip.
  2. 2Use the base verb: After did, use 'travel', not 'travelled'.
  3. 3Join the choices: Did you travel abroad or within Azerbaijan?
🚫Common mistake

After does or did, use the base verb: 'Does Tim travel...?' and 'Did you visit...?'

⚠️Caution

Keep both required parts: the opening question verb and the choices joined by 'or'.

💡Note

The printed rule allows two or more options, joined by 'or'; count the options rather than assuming every question has exactly two.

Rules

  1. 1Join two or more answer options with 'or'.
  2. 2Start the question with the auxiliary verb, modal verb, or the correct form of be.
  3. 3In the Present Simple, use do/does + subject + base verb.
  4. 4In the Past Simple, use did + subject + base verb.
  5. 5With be, place am/is/are/was/were before the subject; with Future Simple, use will before the subject and base verb.
  6. 6Can and should can begin alternative questions, and the alternatives may also be subjects, as in 'Will Jane or Julia join us?'

Practice

10 easy · 10 medium · 10 hard

Up to 10 random questions per test

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