Either...Or (不是...就是)
Express 'if not A, then B' indicating one of two possibilities must be true.
Pattern
不是 + A + 就是 + B
Explanation
不是...就是 means 'if not A, then B' or 'either A or B'. It indicates that one of two situations must be the case, with no third option.
This pattern often carries a slightly negative or complaining tone, suggesting that the subject always does one of two things and the speaker finds it somewhat predictable.
Examples
他每天不是看电视就是玩手机。
Tā měi tiān bú shì kàn diànshì jiù shì wán shǒujī.
Every day he's either watching TV or playing on his phone.
周末不是下雨就是刮风。
Zhōumò bú shì xià yǔ jiù shì guā fēng.
On weekends it's either raining or windy.
她不是在图书馆就是在教室。
Tā bú shì zài túshūguǎn jiù shì zài jiàoshì.
She's either in the library or in the classroom.
Common Mistakes
不是他来就是他去。
他不是来就是去。
The subject should come before 不是, not between 不是 and the verb.
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