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This time, let's discuss about how to offer choices or options in Chinese with 还是。Let's start.
还 character includes path radical (辶) and not (不). Literally, 还 means "still/also". When 还 is attatched with 是，it becomes 还是 and can be used to provide options in question formats. If a person uses 还是 in his question, he expects you to choose one of his options. For example, if someone asks you whethere you want tea or coffee, they expect you to choose one but not both.
The structure for 还是 is quite simple.
Option A + 还是 + Option B?
我 还是 他?
Me or Him?
一个 还是 两个?
One or two?
勺子 还是 叉子?
Spoon or fork?
The structure for full sentence form is not so difficult as well.
Subject + Verb + Option A + 还是 + Option B?
你的 男朋友 是 中国人 还是 美国人？
Is your boyfriend Chinese or British?
我 写 在 这儿 还是 那儿?
Do I write here or there?
你 要 巧克力 还是 咖啡?
Do you want chocolate or coffee?
Note: 还是 can only be used to offer options or choice in question form as an equivalent of "or" in English. But 还是 cannot be used as "or" in statements.
