alternative
/ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv/noun
उच्चारण ऑल्टर्नटिव
विकल्प, दूसरा रास्ता
Core word
- 1
[C] ~ (to sth)
a thing that you can choose to do or have out of two or more possibilities
विकल्प, दूसरा रास्ता
- Cycling is a healthy alternative to driving.
- We had no alternative but to wait.
- Is there an alternative to this expensive medicine?
+ 2 more examples
- They offered an alternative to the usual school uniform.
- With the road closed, the only alternative was to walk.
Synonyms option choice substitute replacement other possibility
- 1
[only before noun]
that can be used instead of something else
वैकल्पिक
- an alternative route
- alternative energy such as solar power
- We found an alternative way home to avoid the traffic jam.
+ 2 more examples
- Do you have an alternative plan if it rains?
- He suggested an alternative date for the meeting.
Synonyms another other different substitute second
- 2
[only before noun]
different from what is usual or traditional
(परंपरा से) अलग, गैर-पारंपरिक
- alternative medicine such as Ayurveda and homoeopathy
- She chose alternative therapies such as yoga to manage her stress.
- She prefers alternative music to film songs.
+ 2 more examples
- The shop sells alternative remedies for cold and cough.
- Many young people are choosing alternative careers like animation.
Synonyms unconventional non-traditional unorthodox
Opposite conventional mainstream orthodox
§Structures (grammar patterns) 4
an alternative to sth
Use to after alternative to name the thing that is replaced. Do not use of or for here.
'Alternative' के बाद जिस चीज़ की जगह ली जा रही हो, उसके लिए to आता है; यहाँ of या for नहीं आता।
- Is there an alternative to this medicine?
- Cycling is a healthy alternative to driving.
have / be left with no alternative but to + verb
This fixed pattern says that nothing else is possible. The verb after to is the base form.
यह निश्चित पैटर्न बताता है कि और कोई रास्ता नहीं बचा। 'to' के बाद verb का base form आता है।
- The school had no alternative but to close for the flood.
- We were left with no alternative but to wait.
alternative + noun (adjective use)
As an adjective it means 'another, different from the usual'. It stands before a noun and has no comparative form.
Adjective के रूप में इसका अर्थ है 'दूसरा, सामान्य से अलग'। यह noun से पहले आता है और इसका comparative रूप नहीं होता।
- Please suggest an alternative route to the station.
- Many people try alternative medicine for back pain.
countable noun: an alternative / alternatives
As a noun it is countable. Strict users keep it for a choice between two, but today it is used for any number of options.
Noun के रूप में यह countable है। पारंपरिक रूप से यह दो में से चुनाव के लिए था, पर अब कितने भी विकल्पों के लिए चलता है।
- You have two alternatives: pay now or pay later.
- The menu offers several vegetarian alternatives.
+Collocations 4
adjective + alternative
viablerealisticcheaperobvioushealthysensible
- Metro is a cheaper alternative to taxis in the city.
verb + alternative
offerconsiderchooseexplorefindsuggest
- The committee will explore an alternative before the final decision.
alternative + noun
routeenergyplanmedicinearrangementsource
- Solar power is an alternative energy source for villages.
preposition phrases
no alternative but toas an alternative toin the alternativethe only alternative
- The only alternative was to postpone the match.
“More examples 5
- Radhika's father suggested an alternative to her first plan.
राधिका के पिता ने उसकी पहली योजना का एक विकल्प सुझाया।
- When the bridge was closed, buses took an alternative route.
जब पुल बंद हो गया, तब बसें दूसरे रास्ते से गईं।
- Some students prefer alternative ways of revising, such as drawing diagrams.
कुछ विद्यार्थी दोहराने के अलग तरीके पसंद करते हैं, जैसे चित्र बनाना।
- He had no alternative but to sell the old scooter.
उसके पास पुराना स्कूटर बेचने के सिवा कोई विकल्प नहीं था।
- Jaggery is a natural alternative to refined sugar.
गुड़ परिष्कृत चीनी का एक प्राकृतिक विकल्प है।
!Common mistakes 2
✗ Is there any alternative of this medicine?
✓ Is there any alternative to this medicine?
Alternative takes the preposition to, not of.
'Alternative' के बाद preposition 'to' आता है, 'of' नहीं।
✗ We have no alternative than to wait.
✓ We have no alternative but to wait.
The fixed pattern is 'no alternative but to', not 'than to'.
निश्चित पैटर्न 'no alternative but to' है, 'than to' नहीं।
≠Thesaurus: which synonym when
Alternative, option and choice all name something you can pick, but they point at different things.
'Alternative', 'option' और 'choice' तीनों चुनी जा सकने वाली चीज़ को बताते हैं, पर उनका ज़ोर अलग है।
Another thing you can use or do in place of the first one.
पहली चीज़ की जगह उपयोग या किया जा सकने वाला दूसरा साधन।
- Ghee is no alternative to a balanced diet.
One of several things you are allowed to pick from.
कई चीज़ों में से एक, जिसे चुनने की अनुमति हो।
- Students have the option of writing in Hindi.
The act of choosing, or the thing chosen.
चुनने की क्रिया, या चुनी गई चीज़।
- Her choice of subject surprised everyone.
◇Word family
≈Synonyms and antonyms
Synonyms
option choice substitute replacement other possibility another other different second unconventional non-traditional unorthodox
Antonyms
AaSpelling
al·ter·na·tive
With -native (not 'alternitive' or 'alternetive').
अंत में -native ('alternitive' या 'alternetive' गलत है)।
?Which word?
alternative or alternate?
Alternative means available as another choice: 'an alternative plan'. Alternate means every second one, or happening by turns: 'on alternate days' (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), 'alternate layers of rice and dal'. In American English alternate is also used for alternative, but British exams expect the difference.
Alternative का अर्थ 'दूसरे विकल्प के रूप में उपलब्ध' है: 'an alternative plan'। Alternate का अर्थ 'हर दूसरा' या 'बारी-बारी से होने वाला' है: 'on alternate days' (सोमवार, बुधवार, शुक्रवार), 'alternate layers of rice and dal'। American English में alternate alternative के लिए भी आता है, पर British परीक्षाएँ अंतर की अपेक्षा करती हैं।
The alternative/alternate pair is a regular usage item.
Alternative और alternate की जोड़ी नियमित usage item है।
§Grammar and usage
An alternative to sth; have no alternative but to do sth.
Alternative के बाद 'to' आता है: an alternative to sth का मतलब है किसी का विकल्प। 'Have no alternative but to do sth' का मतलब है कोई और रास्ता न होना, इसमें 'but' के बाद to-infinitive आता है।
Note: strictly, alternative is a choice between two things, but it is now accepted for more than two.
ध्यान रखिए: सख्ती से alternative दो चीज़ों के बीच विकल्प है, पर अब दो से अधिक के लिए भी स्वीकार्य है।
✓In the exam
General knowledge
Alternative medicine is managed in India by the Ministry of AYUSH.
भारत में वैकल्पिक चिकित्सा AYUSH मंत्रालय के अंतर्गत है।