Le transporteur choisit la voie maritime ou aérienne suivant que le colis est urgent ou non.

Questions & Answers about Le transporteur choisit la voie maritime ou aérienne suivant que le colis est urgent ou non.

Why is est in the indicative and not the subjunctive after suivant que?
Even though it ends in que, the phrase suivant que introduces alternative facts or conditions that are treated as objective realities, not a doubt or subjective feeling. Because it deals with concrete possibilities, it always takes the indicative (est) rather than the subjunctive.
Could I use selon que instead of suivant que in this sentence?
Yes, absolutely. Selon que and suivant que mean the exact same thing ("depending on whether") and are completely interchangeable.
Is it okay to say la voie maritime ou la voie aérienne? Why is the second la voie dropped?
Yes, repeating la voie is grammatically fine, but dropping it is much more natural and concise. Because maritime and aérienne are distinct categories applying to the same noun, the single article la is enough to cover both options.
Why does the sentence end with ou non instead of ou pas?
Both mean "or not", but ou non is slightly more formal and elegant, which fits the professional context of a carrier (le transporteur). In everyday spoken French, you will very often hear ou pas instead.

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