Conditional alternatives (sinon)

When visiting a French library, you are expected to follow strict rules. To express "otherwise" or "if not," use the connector sinon. It links a required action—like a rule or obligation—to the negative consequence of not following it.

Put away your mobile phone, otherwise you disturb everyone.
Range ton portable, sinon tu déranges tout le monde.
We must whisper, otherwise we are expelled by the librarian.
Il faut chuchoter, sinon on est exclu par le bibliothécaire.

You will often see sinon used after an imperative (a command) to issue a strict warning.

Read silently without speaking, otherwise you receive a warning.
Lisez silencieusement sans parler, sinon vous recevez un avertissement.
Listen to the warning, otherwise you leave the reading room.
Écoutez l'avertissement, sinon vous quittez la salle de lecture.

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