else

Other than the person or thing already mentioned, or additional to them.

• Ask someone else.
• Would you like anything else?
• Who else came to the party?

How to use it: someone/something else (Ask someone else for help.); question word + else (Where else could we look?)

Similar words: other, additional

Common phrases: someone else, anything else, who else, something else

Used after or to introduce what happens if the previous statement or action is not true.

• Hurry, or else we will be late.
• It must be locked, or else the door would open.
• Save your work, or else you could lose it.

How to use it: clause + or else + clause (Take a coat, or else you will get cold.)

Similar words: otherwise

Common phrases: or else, leave or else

If this does not happen, a different result will follow.

• Hurry up, or else we will miss the bus.
• Keep the receipt, or else you cannot return it.
• Wear a coat, or else you will get cold.

Similar words: otherwise

Common phrases: or else, else fail

Used after or to warn that something bad will happen unless someone does what you say.

• Be quiet, or else!
• He told us to leave immediately, or else.
• You had better pay me today, or else!

How to use it: command + or else (Give it back, or else!)

Common phrases: or else, stop or else

This introduces what would happen if the previous statement were not true or followed.

• The door must be open, else we cannot enter.
• She knew the answer, else she would have stayed silent.
• The figures must be wrong, else our costs have doubled.

Similar words: otherwise, or

Common phrases: else it would, else we cannot

This shows that you mean a different or additional person or thing.

• Would you like anything else?
• Someone else answered the phone.
• What else did you buy?

How to use it: someone/something else (Someone else has taken my seat.)

Similar words: other

Common phrases: someone else, something else, what else, anything else