Using "otherwise" in conditional sentences

 Hi there and welcome back.

In this lesson I give examples of the word OTHERWISE in conditional sentences and will show you how to convert conditional sentences using IF or OTHERWISE.

Not ALL conditional sentences need the word IF.


Check out the available transcript for this recording to listen and read at the same time.

Also, join me on the following social media sites for more short English lessons.


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC56w4Ksi3RoSHfuz_uDzSWA
https://www.instagram.com/steveunlockedit


Cheers.     

Transcript

Steve:   0:00
Hey there and welcome back for another lesson to unlock you English.  

Steve:   0:05
Today, we're going to look at a word that is used in conditional sentences where we don't need to include "IF". The word is OTHERWISE and let's see how we can use it.  

Steve:   0:19
Here is a typical conditional sentence with IF:

Steve:   0:00
If you don't finish the report this afternoon, you'll have to do it tonight.

Steve:   0:00
Now look how we can convert this sentence using OTHERWISE:

Steve:   0:00
Try to finish the report this afternoon otherwise, you'll have to do it tonight.

Steve:   0:00
Or: Finish the report this afternoon otherwise, you'll have to do it tonight.

Steve:   0:00
Now the first example is more of a recommendation. When I said: Try to finish. And the second example is more imperative, for an obligation, I say: Finish the report.

Steve:   0:00
In some cases, you may need to make a few minor changes to the sentence to keep the meaning the same. You'll see some cases of this in some of the next examples where I do more conversions.

Steve:   0:00
If you want the best prices, you should book your tickets in advance. Or book your tickets in advance, otherwise, you won't get the best prices.

Steve:   0:00
If you don't tell them to do it, they may forget. Tell them to do it, otherwise they may forget.

Steve:   0:00
If you want to keep dry, don't forget to take an umbrella. Take your umbrella, otherwise you won't stay dry. You could also say: otherwise, you will get wet.

Steve:   0:00
If you have a connexion problem, you should contact the technical support team. You should contact the technical support team, otherwise your connexion problems will continue.

Steve:   0:00
If you want to arrive on time, you should leave earlier. You should leave earlier, otherwise you could arrive late.

Steve:   0:00
OK, now we will convert sentences with otherwise back to a normal conditional with "if" and see how we may need to change some of the sentence to keep the same meaning overall.

Steve:   0:00
Go to bed early tonight, otherwise, you'll be tired tomorrow. If you don't go to bed early tonight, you'll be tired tomorrow.

Steve:   0:00
Plan your workload better, otherwise, you'll have to work at the weekend. If you don't plan your workload better, you'll have to work at the weekend.

Steve:   0:00
Take some warm clothes with you, otherwise you will get cold. If you don't take warm clothes with you, you'll get cold.

Steve:   0:00
Book the tickets early, otherwise the theatre will be sold out. If you don't book the tickets early, the theatre will be sold out.

Steve:   0:00
Take the medicine, otherwise you will feel worse. If you don't take the medicine, you will feel worse.

Steve:   0:00
It's important to remember that in conditional sentences with IF you may swap the clauses around. So, while it's perfect to say: If you don't take the medicine, you will feel worse, you can also say: You will feel worse if you don't take the medicine. Now this reversal will work with all of the previous examples, with if, but not otherwise. With otherwise, you cannot swap the order off the clauses.

Steve:   0:00
Well, that's it for this podcast, but I hope you join me in another. Also, please check out my YouTube channel and I do post updated information on Facebook and Instagram.

Steve:   0:00
For now, I'll say thanks for listening and go practise some English.

Steve:   4:10