_И, а, или, али_ - joining and contrasting
The rule
Osnovni veznici
The part of the grammar page this lesson drills — read it here, then use it.
Coordinating conjunctions - и, а, или, али
И (and) simply adds one thing after another with no contrast implied: Волим кафу и чај. (I like coffee and tea.) А also translates as and, but it specifically contrasts two things placed side by side: Ја пијем кафу, а он пије чај. (I drink coffee, and/whereas he drinks tea.)
Или (or) offers a choice: Хоћеш ли кафу или чај? Али (but) is a stronger contrast than а - it overrides an expectation rather than just placing two facts side by side: Уморан сам, али идем на посао. (I'm tired, but I'm going to work.)
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| i | and (adds, no contrast) | Volim kafu i čaj. |
| a | and/whereas (contrast) | Ja pijem kafu, a on pije čaj. |
| ili | or | Kafu ili čaj? |
| ali | but (strong contrast) | Umoran sam, ali idem. |