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else

Use​

We use else to mean ‘other’ after:

somebody, someone, something, somewhere; anybody, everybody, nobody, etc; question words; whatever, whenever, etc; little, much.

  • Would you like anything else?
  • I’m sorry. I mistook you for somebody else.
  • Where else did you go besides Madrid?
  • Whatever else he may be, he’s not a mathematician.
  • We know when Shakespeare was born and when he died, but we don’t know much else about his life.

In a formal style, else is sometimes used after all.

  • When all else fails, read the instructions.

Word order​

Note that else comes immediately after the word it modifies.

  • What else would you like? (not What would you like else?)

else’s​

Else has a possessive else’s.

  • You’re wearing somebody else’s coat.

Singular only​

There is no plural structure with else.

  • I didn’t see any other people. (not … any else people.)

or else​

Or else means ‘otherwise’, ‘if not’.

  • Let’s go, or else we’ll miss the train.

Or else is sometimes used with no continuation, as a threat.

  • You’d better stop hitting my little brother, or else!

elsewhere​

This is a formal word for somewhere else.

  • If you are not satisfied with my hospitality, go elsewhere.