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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Using "OR"
This has bothered me for some time:
Let's say I want to ask them if they are going to the mall or a to a movie. I am not interested in which of the two alternatives but if they are going to either place or not. In other words, the correct answer would not be "mall" or "movie" but "yes" or "no".
Is there a better way of phrasing this so that I get a yes/no instead of mall/movie answer?
Thanks for the help!
Let's say I want to ask them if they are going to the mall or a to a movie. I am not interested in which of the two alternatives but if they are going to either place or not. In other words, the correct answer would not be "mall" or "movie" but "yes" or "no".
Is there a better way of phrasing this so that I get a yes/no instead of mall/movie answer?
Thanks for the help!
Top answer
It is done with tone of voice. Are you going to the mall or to a movie? (rising tone on 'mall' and rising-falling tone on 'movie') — A: The mall.
- It is done with tone of voice.
- Are you going to the mall or to a movie?
- (rising tone on 'mall' and rising-falling tone on 'movie') — A: The mall.
- Are you going to the mall or to a movie?
- (rising tone on 'movie' only) — A: Yes.
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1 Answers
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It is done with tone of voice.
Are you going to the mall or to a movie? (rising tone on 'mall' and rising-falling tone on 'movie') — A: The mall.
Are you going to the mall or to a movie? (rising tone on 'movie' only) — A: Yes.
If you are writing, then you'll need to use 'which' or 'either' instead.
Are you going to the mall or to a movie? (rising tone on 'mall' and rising-falling tone on 'movie') — A: The mall.
Are you going to the mall or to a movie? (rising tone on 'movie' only) — A: Yes.
If you are writing, then you'll need to use 'which' or 'either' instead.
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