Issuing Ultimatums with وإلا
Life on the high seas is full of demands and severe consequences. To issue an ultimatum, use the negative conditional connector وإلا (otherwise).
This word is a combination of و (and) + إن (if) + لا (not), literally meaning "and if not." It links a required action to the negative consequence that will follow if the demand is ignored.
The first half of the sentence usually expresses a strict requirement or command. The second half, directly following وإلا, describes the consequence. When making a threat about the future, this consequence uses a present tense verb marked with the future prefix سـ (will).
| The ship must stop, otherwise the pirate will attack. | يجب أن تتوقف السفينة، وإلا سيهاجم القرصان.yajibu an tatawaqqafa s-safînatu, wa illâ sayuhâjimu l-qursân. |
| We want the ransom, otherwise we will kill the captive. | نريد الفدية، وإلا سنقتل الأسير.nurîdu alfidyata, wa'illâ sanaqtulu al'asîra |
| The sailor must submit to the captain, otherwise he will hang him. | يجب أن يخضع البحار للقبطان، وإلا سيشنقه.yajibu an yakhdaa al-bahhâru lilqubtâni, wa illâ sayashnuquhu |
Past Consequences
You can also use وإلا to explain why a past action was necessary by stating what would have happened otherwise. In these cases, the verb following وإلا is simply placed in the past tense.
| The pirate distributed the loot, otherwise the crew would have mutinied. | وزعت القرصانة الغنيمة، وإلا تمرد الطاقم.wazza'atil qursânatul ghanîmata, wa'illâ tamarrada at-tâqimu |