Question 1

Why do we use soit ... soit here instead of ou ... ou for "either... or"?

Accepted Answer

Both soit... soit... and ou... ou... mean "either... or...", but soit... soit... emphasizes a strict choice between mutually exclusive options. Here, it highlights that attacking the center and defending are two distinct strategic paths you can take.

Question 2

Why does the sentence start with Aux échecs instead of Dans les échecs to mean "In chess"?

Accepted Answer

In French, you refer to games and sports using the preposition à contracted with the definite article (à + les = aux). Just as you would say jouer aux échecs to mean "to play chess", you use aux échecs to mean "in the game of chess". Using dans would sound as though you were physically inside the chess pieces.

Question 3

Is the word soit in this sentence related to the subjunctive form of the verb être?

Accepted Answer

Yes, historically it is exactly that! It comes from the third-person singular subjunctive of être, literally meaning "let it be". Over time, the phrase soit... soit... (let it be this... let it be that...) became a fixed conjunction meaning "either... or...". You do not need to apply any subjunctive grammar rules when using it this way.

Question 4

Could we use nous instead of on to mean "we" here?

Accepted Answer

You absolutely could say soit nous attaquons... soit nous défendons, but on is much more common in everyday French. Additionally, on works perfectly here because it can mean a specific "we" or a general "one" (as in "one attacks the center"), which is ideal for explaining general game strategies.

Aux échecs, soit on attaque le centre, soit on défend.

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