Connecting Sentences with 'Ili' (Or)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'ili' to link two options or ideas, just like 'or' in English, to offer choices or alternatives.
- Use 'ili' between two nouns for simple choices: 'Kava ili čaj?' (Coffee or tea?)
- Use 'ili' between two verbs for choosing actions: 'Pjevaj ili pleši.' (Sing or dance.)
- Repeat it for 'either/or' emphasis: 'Ili ti, ili ja.' (Either you or I.)
Usage of 'Ili' with Different Parts of Speech
| Category | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Nouns
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Noun + ili + Noun
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Vino ili pivo?
|
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Verbs
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Verb + ili + Verb
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Trčati ili hodati?
|
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Adjectives
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Adj + ili + Adj
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Sretan ili tužan?
|
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Adverbs
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Adv + ili + Adv
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Brzo ili sporo?
|
|
Pronouns
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Pronoun + ili + Pronoun
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Ti ili on?
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Clauses
|
Sentence, ili + Sentence
|
Ja ću kuhati, ili ćemo naručiti.
|
Meanings
The conjunction 'ili' is used to connect words, phrases, or independent clauses that represent alternatives or choices. It indicates that only one of the options is likely, possible, or required.
Simple Alternative
Connecting two similar items where one must be chosen.
“Želiš li jabuku ili krušku?”
“Idemo u subotu ili u nedjelju?”
Correlative (Either... Or)
Using 'ili' twice to emphasize that there are only two mutually exclusive possibilities.
“Ili kupi ili ostavi.”
“Ili ćemo pobijediti, ili ćemo izgubiti.”
Approximate Numbers
Used between numbers to indicate an estimate.
“Bit će tamo pet ili šest ljudi.”
“Treba mi dva ili tri dana.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Simple Choice
|
A ili B
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Kava ili čaj?
|
A or B
|
|
Correlative
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Ili A, ili B
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Ili dođi, ili ostani.
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Either A or B
|
|
Question
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Li ... ili ...?
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Hoćeš li meso ili ribu?
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Do you want meat or fish?
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Approximation
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Num ili Num
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Dva ili tri.
|
Two or three (approx.)
|
|
Alternative Clause
|
..., ili ...
|
Idem, ili ću zakasniti.
|
I'm going, or I'll be late.
|
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With 'Pak' (Nuance)
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..., ili pak ...
|
Možda spava, ili pak radi.
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Maybe he's sleeping, or perhaps working.
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Espectro de formalidade
Želite li izaći van ili biste radije ostali kod kuće? (Friday night plans)
Hoćeš li ići van ili ćeš ostati doma? (Friday night plans)
Ideš van il' ostaješ? (Friday night plans)
Vani il' doma, šta ćeš? (Friday night plans)
The World of 'Ili'
Choices
- Hrana Food
- Piće Drink
Actions
- Raditi To work
- Odmarati To rest
Ili vs. Ali
When to use a comma with 'ili'?
Is 'ili' repeated (Ili... ili...)?
Does it connect two long sentences?
Common 'Ili' Pairs
Time
- • Danas ili sutra
- • Sad ili nikad
- • Prije ili poslije
Quantity
- • Više ili manje
- • Malo ili puno
- • Jedan ili dva
Exemplos por nível
Kava ili čaj?
Coffee or tea?
Mama ili tata?
Mom or dad?
Crveno ili plavo?
Red or blue?
Danas ili sutra?
Today or tomorrow?
Želiš li jabuku ili krušku?
Do you want an apple or a pear?
Ići ćemo pješice ili autobusom.
We will go on foot or by bus.
Ili ti kupi kruh, ili ću ja.
Either you buy bread, or I will.
Hoćeš li spavati ili gledati TV?
Do you want to sleep or watch TV?
Možemo se naći u pet ili šest sati.
We can meet at five or six o'clock.
Nisam siguran je li to istina ili laž.
I'm not sure if that is the truth or a lie.
Ili ćeš mi reći sve, ili odlazim.
Either you will tell me everything, or I'm leaving.
Možeš platiti karticom ili gotovinom.
You can pay by card or with cash.
Projekt mora biti gotov do petka, ili ćemo izgubiti klijenta.
The project must be finished by Friday, or we will lose the client.
Možete odabrati glavni predmet, ili se možete fokusirati na praksu.
You can choose a major subject, or you can focus on an internship.
Ili se prilagodi situaciji, ili snosi posljedice.
Either adapt to the situation, or bear the consequences.
Pitanje je hoće li vlada pasti ili će preživjeti glasanje.
The question is whether the government will fall or survive the vote.
Autor sugerira da je motivacija bila financijska, ili pak ideološka.
The author suggests that the motivation was financial, or perhaps ideological.
Ili ćemo radikalno promijeniti pristup, ili je sav trud uzaludan.
Either we will radically change the approach, or all effort is in vain.
Možemo to promatrati kao uspjeh, ili u najmanju ruku, kao pouku.
We can view this as a success, or at the very least, as a lesson.
Zakon nalaže da se kazna plati odmah, ili u roku od osam dana.
The law mandates that the fine be paid immediately, or within eight days.
Njegov je stil ili genijalan u svojoj jednostavnosti, ili naprosto banalan.
His style is either brilliant in its simplicity, or simply banal.
Ili se povijest ponavlja, ili mi odbijamo iz nje išta naučiti.
Either history repeats itself, or we refuse to learn anything from it.
U ovim stihovima 'ili' ne označava izbor, već ontološku nesigurnost.
In these verses, 'or' does not denote a choice, but an ontological uncertainty.
Može se tvrditi da je odluka bila ishitrena, ili pak plod duboke promišljenosti.
It can be argued that the decision was hasty, or perhaps the fruit of deep deliberation.
Fácil de confundir
They sound similar and both are short conjunctions.
Learners think 'ili' can start any question.
Both can mean 'or' in some contexts.
Erros comuns
Kava i čaj?
Kava ili čaj?
Ili želiš vodu?
Želiš li vodu?
On ili ja?
On ili ja?
Crveno ali plavo?
Crveno ili plavo?
Ili ćeš doći ili ćeš ostati.
Ili ćeš doći, ili ćeš ostati.
Želiš li ići, ili ostati?
Želiš li ići ili ostati?
Ne znam ili on radi.
Ne znam radi li on.
On je ili lud ili genije.
On je ili lud, ili genije.
Ili...ili bez zareza.
Ili..., ili... sa zarezom.
Možemo ići ili autobusom ili vlakom.
Možemo ići ili autobusom, ili vlakom.
Ili pak on ne zna.
Ili on pak ne zna.
Ili/i
i/ili
Ili... ili... bez zareza u dugim rečenicama.
Ili... , ili... u dugim rečenicama.
Padrões de frases
Želiš li ___ ili ___?
Možemo ___ ili ___.
Ili ćeš ___, ili ćeš ___.
Nije bitno je li ___ ili ___.
Real World Usage
Pomfrit ili riža?
Kino ili kava večeras?
Preferirate li timski rad ili samostalni rad?
Lijevo ili desno?
Gotovina ili kartica?
Boli li vas ovdje ili tamo?
The Comma Rule
Don't confuse with 'Ali'
Informal Shortening
Ultimatums
Smart Tips
Just drop 'ili' in the middle. It's the easiest way to sound fluent instantly.
Start the sentence with 'Ili'. It adds immediate drama and clarity to your choice.
Check if the two parts can stand alone. If yes, add a comma before 'ili' to help the reader breathe.
Use 'ili' between two consecutive numbers to sound like a native estimator.
Pronúncia
Short 'i'
The 'i' in 'ili' is short and neutral. Don't stretch it.
Liaison in informal speech
In fast speech, 'ili' often shortens to 'il'' before a word starting with a consonant.
Rising-Falling Choice
Kava (up) ili čaj (down)?
Standard way to offer a choice.
Memorize
Mnemônico
ILI is like a fork in the road: Left or Right, Coffee or Tea, ILI is the key!
Associação visual
Imagine a giant letter 'I' standing between a cup of coffee and a cup of tea. The 'I' looks like a divider, separating your two choices.
Rhyme
Kava ili čaj, izbora je kraj!
Story
Ivan was at a bakery. He couldn't decide: 'Ili kruh, ili kifla?' (Either bread or a roll?). The baker said, 'Ili kupi, ili odlazi!' (Either buy or leave!). Ivan chose both.
Word Web
Desafio
Look around your room and name three pairs of objects using 'ili' (e.g., 'Knjiga ili olovka?').
Notas culturais
In Dalmatia, you might hear 'ali' used where 'ili' should be in very specific archaic contexts, or 'oli' in some islands.
Ordering is very specific. 'Kratka ili produžena?' refers to the length of the espresso shot.
Croatians use 'ili... ili...' to set clear boundaries or ultimatums in family discussions.
From Proto-Slavic *ili, a combination of the particle *i (and) and *li (interrogative particle).
Iniciadores de conversa
Voliš li više ljeto ili zimu?
Piješ li kavu ili čaj ujutro?
Želiš li raditi u uredu ili od kuće?
Ili ćemo ići na more, ili u planine. Što ti misliš?
Temas para diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
Želiš li sok ___ vodu?
Ili ćeš učiti, ___ ćeš raditi.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ili pjevaj ili pleši.
čaj / ili / kava / ?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Konobar: Želite li desert? Gost: Da, molim. Imate li tortu ___ sladoled?
In Croatian, you always put a comma before every 'ili'.
Kupi kruh ili mlijeko.
Score: /8
Exercicios praticos
8 exercisesŽeliš li sok ___ vodu?
Ili ćeš učiti, ___ ćeš raditi.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ili pjevaj ili pleši.
čaj / ili / kava / ?
1. Danas ili sutra? 2. Ili ti, ili ja. 3. Kava ili čaj?
Konobar: Želite li desert? Gost: Da, molim. Imate li tortu ___ sladoled?
In Croatian, you always put a comma before every 'ili'.
Kupi kruh ili mlijeko.
Score: /8
Perguntas frequentes (8)
Yes, but usually only in the 'Ili... ili...' (Either... or...) construction or when responding to someone else's statement to offer an alternative.
'Ili' means 'or'. 'Bilo' is often used in 'bilo tko' (anyone) or 'bilo kada' (anytime). They are not interchangeable.
There isn't a single word for 'either'. Instead, we repeat 'ili' at the beginning of the first option: 'Ili A, ili B'.
Usually no. 'Jabuke, kruške ili šljive' (Apples, pears, or plums) does not require a comma before 'ili'.
Yes, in sentences like 'Požuri, ili ćemo zakasniti' (Hurry, or [else] we will be late).
It's a common informal contraction used in fast speech. It's like saying 'wanna' instead of 'want to' in English.
Yes, it is the standard word for 'or' in all registers, from slang to legal contracts.
No. For 'whether', use the particle 'li' (e.g., 'Pitam se dolazi li' - I wonder whether he is coming).
Scaffolded Practice
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2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
or
Croatian requires a comma before the second 'ili' in correlative pairs.
o / u
Croatian 'ili' is invariant; Spanish 'o' changes phonetically.
ou
French has a homophone 'où' (where); Croatian 'ili' does not.
oder
German uses 'entweder... oder' for 'either... or', while Croatian repeats 'ili'.
ka / soretomo
Japanese uses particles or sentence-starters; Croatian uses a medial conjunction.
aw / am
Arabic has two words for 'or' depending on the sentence type; Croatian has one.
huòzhě / háishì
Chinese splits 'or' by mood (statement vs. question); Croatian does not.
