Learn Hardcore Russian: Срочно доставьте лекарство, иначе качество лечения ухудшится. - Deliver the medicine urgently; otherwise the quality of treatment will deteriorate.

Срочно is an adverb (from the adjective срочный, ‘urgent’). It modifies the verb доставьте, indicating that the action must be done immediately. In Russian, adverbs are flexible in placement; putting it first adds extra emphasis to the urgency.

What does доставьте mean, and what is its grammatical form?

Доставьте is the 2nd person plural (or polite singular) imperative of the perfective verb доставить (‘to deliver’). Using the perfective aspect stresses that the delivery is expected as a single, completed action.

Why is лекарство unchanged in the accusative singular form?

Лекарство is a neuter noun whose nominative and accusative singular forms are identical. Here it functions as the direct object of доставьте, so grammatically it’s in the accusative case even though it looks like the nominative.

How does иначе function in this sentence?

Иначе means ‘otherwise’ or ‘if not’. It introduces a consequence clause: if the medicine is not delivered urgently, then the quality of treatment will worsen.

What case is качество, and why is it used here?

Качество is in the nominative singular case because it is the subject of the verb ухудшится (‘will worsen’). It names what is experiencing the change.

Why is лечения in the genitive case?

Лечения is the genitive singular of лечение (‘treatment’). It serves as an attribute modifying качество, forming the phrase ‘quality of treatment’. Russian commonly uses the genitive to express this relationship.

What aspect and tense is ухудшится, and how does that affect the meaning?

Ухудшится is the 3rd person singular future tense, perfective (reflexive) form of ухудшиться (‘to get worse’). The perfective aspect emphasizes the completion of the change—here, that the quality will definitively worsen.

Could you use the imperfective form будет ухудшаться instead of ухудшится?

Yes. Будет ухудшаться (imperfective future) would highlight an ongoing or repeated process of worsening. Ухудшится (perfective) focuses on the fact that the quality will reach a worse state as a result.

Is it possible to use the informal singular imperative доставь here instead of доставьте?

Yes. Доставь is the 2nd person singular informal imperative of доставить. You’d use it when speaking to someone you address as ты. Доставьте is either plural or the polite/formal вы form.

Why is there a comma before иначе?

In Russian, a comma separates the main clause from a conditional/consequence clause introduced by иначе. It marks the boundary between “deliver the medicine” and “otherwise the quality will worsen.”