Definition of DISJUNCTIVE CONJUNCTIONS

How to link two alternative ideas? The Spanish Language is endowed with grammatical and syntactic structures that allow us to express these options without losing the principle of economy of the Language. It does so through disjunctive conjunctions. In unPROFESOR.com we explain the definition of disjunctive conjunctions with examples so that you better understand what they consist of. Remember that to understand this linguistic concept you first have to understand what are conjunctions Y how are they classified.

Index

1. What are disjunctive conjunctions?
2. Examples of disjunctive conjunctions
3. What are the disjunctive conjunctions? The O
4. ‘U as a disjunctive conjunction
5. Other uses of disjunctive conjunctions

According to Spanish grammar, disjunctive conjunctions They are one of the coordinating conjunctions what link words, syntactic groups or sentences, in which there is no relationship between the linked elements, even if they are of the same level. On the other hand, they also have the quality of establishing a

Disjunctive conjunctions are characterized by appearing between coordinating elements, but never before the first alternative. This is, first present alternative A, and they connect it as a choice against B. In this way, they become instruments of the language that offer the possibility of choosing between two or more different realities, or between two variants of a reality.

Likewise, disjunctive conjunctions are also used to coordinate the last two elements of a non-exhaustive, generalist exemplification.

Here, the conjunction has an addition value similar to that of the conjunction Y: Many famous people attended the party, such as journalists, actors or footballers

With some examples of disjunctive conjunctions it sure is much better understood.

• You go up in the elevator or you go down the stairs. You have two options, which are raised in prayer.
• I don't know if you want to eat orange or do you prefer apple now. Here the dilemma or doubt points to preferences.
• You play with the ball or with the small ball. If you have two options, which one do you choose?
• You cook meat or fish today. Two options, one choice.
• You use a bottle or jug ​​for water. Two options, at the same level.

As you can see in the examples, the disjunctive links that we use to present a disjunctive option are o, u.

The disjunctive conjunction "or", is generally unstressed (without accent or accent), except when it appears between two numbers or figures. It will have a graphic accent so that it is not confused with zero and is more applicable in handwritten writing, although this spelling rule of the Spanish language is falling into disuse, since computers already have fonts and types to clearly differentiate the "o" from zero, and thus there is no longer that misinterpretation.

Examples of disjunctive links with O

• Would you like 3 or 5 pieces of fruit? >> clearly when writing it with the computer, the same technological device tells us that it is not necessary to tick it. If the writing is done manually in the "o", the accent would be placed.
• You buy 21 or 22 pencils of all the colors you want.

Instead, in the sentences the accent is not incorporated, even if they were written manually or with a typewriter, since there is no possibility of confusion:

• You are going to Madrid or Barcelona, ​​or Valladolid.
• You study philosophy or medicine at the university.
• What instrument do you want to buy: a violin or a cello?
• You are 35 or older.

The disjunctive conjunction "u" is used in both spoken and written language when the vowel sound of the next word begins with the sound / o /, that is, the next word begins with "o" or "ho", to avoid cacophony.

Examples

• There were seven or eight books on the table.
• Study vocabulary or other relevant topic.
• Flower petals or leaves fall from trees.
• You listen to music by Andrés or Oscar.
• Those little animals are ladybugs or ants.

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As nexus connectors join and link sentences or phrases making a bridge between various parts of a speech and exerting a meaning in what is said in a specific way. They are an indispensable part of oral and written language, in which they have a sense and a meaning to maintain parts of sentences or coordinated sentences or subordinate to each other.

Examples

• We buy five or six kilos so that there is enough for everyone.
• Giving roses or hydrangeas will be fine for Mother's Day.
• The ceremony will be held in one venue or another, depending on the attendees who attend.

These disjunctive coordinating effects perform a separation or choice between discursive terms in the text to separate or contradict ideas within it, and give a specific, unique or alternative meaning exclusively or excluding. The dilemma "u" is used almost as a final ultimatum.

Examples

• Are you staying or are you coming?
• You go up or down.
• You are asleep or awake.
• You are going to go by car or bus.
• Do your homework or you don't go outside.

The use of the open disjunction refers to compatible, inclusive or inclusive situations.

Examples

• We can go shopping tomorrow or leave it until next week.
• You don't come on a trip for one reason or another.
• You read or study.

In the disjunctive conjunction of denominative equivalence its join two terms and expressions with the same nominative value, in which the terms are equivalent and indicate the same thing.

Examples

• The ENT, or ear specialist, receives his patient in the consultation.
• The numbers, or digits, indicated correspond to the numerical order.
• The alphabet, or alphabet, can be written in uppercase or lowercase letters.

Also, now It was formerly used as a disjunctive conjunction, now in disuse and replaced by 'ya' which etymologically, in this context, means now.

If you want to read more articles similar to Definition of disjunctive conjunctions - with examples, we recommend that you enter our category of Grammar and Linguistics.

• Jiménez Juliá, T. (1986). Exclusive and inclusive disjunction in Spanish.
• Nieto, J. B. (2000). ICONIC GRAMMAR: THE «COMPOSITE» COORDINATING LINKS IN SPANISH. Current issues in the Spanish language, 3, 41.
• Patiño, E. P. V., & Sánchez, I. R. (2004). Functional linguistics.