This week, our lesson will focus on disjunctive coordinating conjunctions. These simple conjunctions separate mutually exclusive options. This means that one of the components linked by the conjunction is likely to happen or based on reality, but not both. In Italian, we have 4 conjunctions of this type:
o = or
oppure = or, or else, otherwise
ovvero = or, or else (used less frequently than o or oppure); or rather; that is, in other words
altrimenti = otherwise, or else
It can also be used to express the “either.. or” construction in English:
NB: The conjunction o can also take on an explicative role, which, as the name suggests, provides an explanation to a previously mentioned topic.
As we see in the example above, oppure divides two opposing options (relaxing vs. going to a party.) In our example with o, on the other hand, the option of vacationing at the beach is not completely antithetical to vacationing in the mountains.
Oppure can also start a sentence in order to propose a different option, usually mentioned at some point in the past:
In current Italian, ovvero mainly takes on an explicative role and means that is or in other words:
o = or
oppure = or, or else, otherwise
ovvero = or, or else (used less frequently than o or oppure); or rather; that is, in other words
altrimenti = otherwise, or else
O
O is the equivalent of the English or, which usually proposes another option or idea in a sentence:| Ti piace di più passare le vacanze al mare o in montagna? Do you enjoy spending your vacation more at the beach or in the mountains? |
It can also be used to express the “either.. or” construction in English:
| O andiamo al parco in bicicletta, o (oppure) prendiamo a prestito la macchina di Matteo. Either we ride our bikes to the park, or we borrow Matteo’s car. |
NB: The conjunction o can also take on an explicative role, which, as the name suggests, provides an explanation to a previously mentioned topic.
| Amsterdam, o la Venezia del Nord, è una bellissima città. Amsterdam, or the Venice of the North, is a beautiful city. |
Oppure
One can say that oppure has an even stronger disjunctive function that o:| Possiamo restare a casa e rilassarci, oppure possiamo andare alla festa di Martina. We can stay at home and relax, or we can go to Martina’s party. |
As we see in the example above, oppure divides two opposing options (relaxing vs. going to a party.) In our example with o, on the other hand, the option of vacationing at the beach is not completely antithetical to vacationing in the mountains.
Oppure can also start a sentence in order to propose a different option, usually mentioned at some point in the past:
| Marta: Oggi abbiamo tempo per fare la spesa! Marco: Oppure possiamo finalmente portare il cane dal veterinario! Marta: We have time to go grocery shopping today! Marco: Or we can finally take the dog to the veterinarian! |
Ovvero
Ovvero is less common than the aforementioned conjunctions, yet still used at times. When it means or rather, normally, what comes after is a full clause:| O i ragazzi hanno deciso di tacere, ovvero non sanno nulla. Either the boys have decided to remain silent, or they know nothing. |
In current Italian, ovvero mainly takes on an explicative role and means that is or in other words:
| Non mi piacciono le verdure verdi, ovvero gli spinaci, i carciofi, le zucchine, ecc. I don’t like green vegetables, that is, spinach, artichokes, zucchini, etc. |
Altrimenti
When acting as a conjunction, altrimenti translates to the English otherwise. As a pointer to when to use altrimenti, remember that you can often use it if what follows is seen as a consequence to what was mentioned before:| Spero di poter portare la mia amica alla festa, altrimenti non ci andrò. I hope I can bring my friend to the party, otherwise I won’t go. |