To express inclusive conditions like "Whether [A] or [B]", Arabic uses (سواء) for "whether", followed by the first condition, then either (أم) or (أو) for "or", and finally the alternative condition.
| whether (regardless of whether, ... or ...) | سواءsawâ'un |
Action vs. Action
When comparing two actions, (سواء) is directly followed by a verb. Because this is a conditional structure, Arabic strongly prefers using past tense verbs for both conditions, even if the overall sentence applies to the present or future.
| Every company is subject to an auditing process, whether it agreed or refused. | كل شركة خاضعة لعملية تدقيق، سواء وافقت أم رفضت.kullu sharikatin khâdi'atun li'amaliyyati tadqîqin, sawâ'un wâfaqat am rafadat. |
Notice how the verbs (وافقت) and (رفضت) are in the past tense, even though the company is currently subject to auditing. Both (أم) and (أو) can be used interchangeably in these structures.
| Whether Maryam complied with the law or violated it, she is subject to the penalty. | سواء امتثلت مريم للقانون أم خالفته، هي خاضعة للعقوبة.sawâ'un imtathalat maryamu lilqânûni am khâlafat-hu, hiya khâdi'atun lil'uqûbati |
State vs. State (Using كان)
If your condition relies on adjectives or nouns rather than action verbs, you still need a verb to satisfy the conditional structure. Simply insert the appropriate past tense form of (كان) right after (سواء).
| Disclosure of any asset is very important, whether it was big or small. | الإفصاح عن أي أصل مهم جدا، سواء كان كبيرا أو صغيرا.al-ifsâhu 'an ayyi aslin muhimmun jiddan, sawâ'an kâna kabîran aw saghîran. |
Because (كان) supports the conditional structure here, the English translation often reflects the present tense ("whether you are rich or poor").
| If you hide one of the assets then this is evasion, whether you are rich or poor. | إذا أخفيت أحد الأصول فهذا تهرب، سواء كنت غنيا أو فقيرا.idhâ akhfayta ahada al-usûli fahâdhâ taharrubun, sawâ'un kunta ghaniyyan aw faqîran. |
"Whether... or not" (أم لا)
To say "whether [something] or not", you do not need to repeat the verb in the negative. Just use (أم لا) (or not) as the alternative condition.
| Whether the evasion was intentional or not, you will pay the fine. | سواء كان التهرب متعمدا أم لا، سوف تدفع الغرامة.sawâ'un kâna at-taharrubu muta'ammadan am lâ, sawfa tadfa'u al-gharâmah. |
This works directly after action verbs as well:
| We are subject to the law, whether we comply with it or not. | نحن خاضعون للقانون، سواء امتثلنا له أم لا.nahnu khâdi'ûna lilqânûni, sawâ'an imtathalnâ lahu am lâ. |