Spanish · B1 · Everyday language
Two Good Options in Spanish
Learn how to offer your child choices by linking two options using the 'o... o...' construction. This helps provide structure while giving them a sense of autonomy in their daily decisions.
What you'll learn
- Master the use of paired conjunctions (o... o...) to offer alternatives.
- Practice vocabulary related to household chores and social activities.
- Formulate clear, supportive choices for children in natural Spanish.
Spanish phrases for two good options
Puedes invitar o a Sam o a Alex este fin de semana.
You can invite either Sam or Alex this weekend.
Note the personal 'a' used before names.
Podemos quedar o fuera de la biblioteca o en el polideportivo.
We can meet either outside the library or at the sports centre.
'Quedar' is the common verb for meeting up socially.
O ordenas tu escritorio ahora, o lo haces después de comer.
Either you tidy your desk now, or you do it after lunch.
'Después de comer' usually refers to lunch in Spain.
Para tu proyecto, puedes hacer o un póster o un vídeo corto.
For your project, you can make either a poster or a short video.
'Vídeo' has an accent in Spain; 'video' (no accent) is more common in Latin America.
O te llevo al entrenamiento, o vas en bici con tu amigo.
Either I take you to practice, or you cycle with your friend.
'Entrenamiento' is used for sports practice.
Puedes usar tu tiempo de pantalla o antes de cenar o después.
You can use your screen time either before dinner or afterwards.
'Tiempo de pantalla' is a direct and widely understood translation.
Podemos hacer la fiesta de pijamas o este sábado o el próximo viernes.
We can have the sleepover either this Saturday or next Friday.
'Fiesta de pijamas' is the standard term for a sleepover.
O cocinamos juntos, o aprovechamos las sobras de ayer.
Either we cook together, or we use the leftovers from yesterday.
'Aprovechar' means to take advantage of or make use of.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
sobras
leftovers
Coming from the verb 'sobrar' (to be left over).
quedar
to meet up / to stay
In this context, it refers to meeting someone at a specific location.
polideportivo
sports centre
Commonly used for public multi-sport facilities.
ordenar
to tidy / to organize
Essential verb for household instructions.
Correlative Conjunctions: O... O...
To express 'either... or', Spanish simply uses 'o' before both alternatives. While the first 'o' can sometimes be omitted in simple lists, keeping it adds emphasis to the choice being offered.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun Choice | o [noun] o [noun] | O manzana o pera. |
| Verb Choice | o [verb 1] o [verb 2] | O juegas o lees. |
| Formal Variation | o bien... o bien... | O bien vienes, o bien te quedas. |
More examples
¿Qué prefieres? O el parque o la piscina.
What do you prefer? Either the park or the pool.
A simple way to present two locations.
O terminas la sopa, o no hay postre.
Either you finish the soup, or there is no dessert.
A common 'consequence' structure using o... o.