と～と、どちらが | Grammar

Structure

[noun] + と + [noun] + と、どちらが + [i-adj] / [na-adj] + ですか [noun] + と + [noun] + と、どちらを / どちらに + [verb (polite)] + か [noun] + のほうが + [i-adj] / [na-adj] + です

Description

AとBと、どちらが… asks which of two things is more something: "which is faster, A or B?" Each of the two nouns takes と, a comma follows, and どちら with the adjective or verb asks the question.

、。

Which do you like better, dogs or cats?

、。

Which is faster, the train or the bus?

、。

Which is bigger, Tokyo or Osaka?

どちら is a question word, so it takes が, never は.

× どちらは速いですか → どちらが速いですか

Answering with のほうが

The answer puts のほうが after the one you choose. If you can't choose, say どちらも.

。

I like dogs better.

。

The train is faster.

。

I like them both.

Particles other than が

どちら takes whatever particle the verb needs: を for an object, に for a destination.

、。

Which do you eat more, meat or fish?

、。

Where would you rather go, the sea or the mountains?

Usage notes

These go beyond the polite question about two nouns.

Casual speech

In casual speech the second と often drops, and どちら becomes どっち.

、きごう？

Coffee or tea – which do you want?

Comparing actions

To compare two actions, turn each verb into a noun with の.

、。

Which do you like better, watching films or reading?

Three or more

どちら is only for two. For three or more, use のなか中で with どれ, なん何, どこ or だれ.

、。

Of all sports, which do you like best?

Examples

、。

Between summer and winter, which do you like more?

、。

Between Tokyo and Osaka, which is bigger?

、。

Between watching movies and reading books, which do you like more?

、。

Between tea and coffee, which would you prefer?

、。

Between Japanese and English, which is more difficult?

、。

Between meat and fish, which do you eat more often?

、。

Between walking and going by bike, which is faster?

、。

Between morning and night, which is easier to study during?

、きごう？

Between soccer and baseball, which is more fun?

、。

Between the sea and the mountains, which would you like to go to?

、。

Between this red one and that blue one, which looks better on me?

、。

Between living alone and living with someone, which do you think is better?

References

The Particle と Iimabi.org
と-と-どちらがBunpro