Most of the time the conjunction "or" can be translated into Portuguese as "or".
Ex.:
You can eat a sandwich or a vegetable soup. Which do you prefer? (You can have a sandwich or vegetable soup. Which do you prefer?)
You have a lot of money. You can buy a Ferrari or a BMW. (Do you have lot of money. You can buy a Ferrari or a BMW).
I do not know if next year I will travel to Japan or to England. (I don't know if next year I will travel to Japan or England).
The use of "or" with the sense of "or" is more frequent in:
The) explanatory sentences:
Do not worry. Everything is fine now or Ted would have called us. (Do not worry. Everything is fine now or Ted would have called us).
My mother gave me $15. So, I can buy a book or a dictionary at that new bookstore. (My mother gave me fifteen dollars. So I can buy a book or a dictionary at that new bookstore).
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
B) sentences that demonstrate consequence:
Peter, stop playing with that knife or you will hurt yourself. (Peter stop playing with that knife or you will get hurt).
Slow down or you can have a serious accident. (Go slowly or you could have a serious accident).
Also, the "or" can also be used to express "nor". In that case it will come in negative sentences.
Ex.:
You can not watch television or play on the computer. (You cannot watch television or play on the computer).
Bob is very sick, that is why he can't come today or tomorrow. (Bob is very sick, that's why he can't come today or tomorrow).
Obs.: Although the “or” is also used with the meaning of “nor”, it is more frequent in negative sentences to use the “nor”.
Layssa Gabriela Almeida e Silva
Brazil School Collaborator
Degree in Languages - English from the State University of Goiás - UEG
Improvement course in English at Zoni Language Centers - USA - USA
English - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SILVA, Layssa Gabriela Almeida e. "The usability of “or” in English"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/ingles/the-usability-of-or-in-english.htm. Accessed on July 27, 2021.
