5 Common "If...not" Expressions

#1) If you don't love yourself, nobody will. (Advice for someone with self-pity)

#2) If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. (Advice for someone who recently failed)

#3) If I can't have you, nobody can. (Threat from a rejected lover)

#4) If you don't have your health, you don't have anything. (Advice for someone who should live healthier)

#5) If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. (Advice for someone who just said something unkind)

Otherwise / Likewise

Otherwise is a word describing what will happen if the prior statement doesn't happen or isn't true.

Example:

#1) I need to find a job this month. Otherwise, I will run out of money and have to live on the streets.
#2) You have to tell the truth. Otherwise, your conscience will never let you rest.
#3) I believe my girlfriend has been honest with me. Otherwise, I can never trust anybody again.
#4) Eat all of your vegetables. Otherwise, you won't get dessert.
#5) Say you're sorry. Otherwise, you have to find a new best friend.


Likewise restates a truth that applies to another thing or another person's perspective.

Example:

#1) "Nice to meet you." ~ "Likewise."
#2) Mariam is very good at her job. Likewise, Patricia is talented in this job and has years of experience.
#3) Paris has many toursits. Likewise, many people come to Istanbul to visit.

Apparently / Evidently / It seems...

There are some words in English that are used when pieces of information lead to a conclusion that wasn't immediately clear, or a reality you were unaware of initially. Three common terms for this are: apparently, evidently, it seems

Apparently and Evidently are synonymous. You can use them the same way.

Example:

#1) My husband told me he was working late, but I called his office and he wasn't there. Apparently, he went to his coworker's house to play poker, but he didn't want to tell me.

#2) I went to the liquor cabinet to get a drink and there was a bottle of gin missing. Apparently, my kids have been stealing my alcohol because I found an empty gin bottle underneath their mattress.

#3) I told my best friend a secret and she told my parents. Evidently, I can't trust her.

#4) My doctor told me fast food is healthy. Evidently, he never went to medical school.


It seems is similar, but it is used when a conclusion is only probable.

Example:

#1) My son has been eating his own hair again. It seems he has gone crazy.

#2) My wife doesn't arouse me anymore. It seems we will never have children.

#3) There is a nuclear disaster in the East. The temperature is dropping and the sun is the color of blood. It seems the world is ending.

Gender Neutrality

There are many job titles that were gender specific in the past, but modernly a woman or man can hold these jobs and therefore they have been given updated, gender neutral titles.

Homemaker (Housewife)

Flight Attendant (Air Hostess, Stewardess)

Firefighter (Fireman)

Police Officer (Policeman)

Sales Representative (Salesman)

Look Up, Look Down

As a phrasal verb, to look up means the future seems positive. The full expression, "Things are looking up.", means the future seems generally positive for the person. This expression is the most common, by far.

Look up has the added meaning of researching a piece of information, usually in a directory. Example: #1) I looked up his phone number in the phone book. #2) I looked up the word in the dictionary. #3) I've never heard of Harry Partch, but I will look him up on Wikipedia tonight.

Look down may have the opposite meaning of the phrasal verb look up (i.e. Things are looking down.) However, there is a more common expression, "Things aren't looking good", which means the future of a situation seems negative.

Look down has the added meaning of feeling/expressing contempt for someone, or not having respect for someone. Example: #1) He looks down on poor people because he believes they're lazy. #2) My brother looks down on me because of my drug addiction. #3) My wife looks down on me because I cannot last for more than three minutes in bed.

Carried Away

One common English expression that is rarely used by English learners is carried away.

If someone is carried away with something, it means they have been performing some action to an unhealthy extreme, or they are making a quick judgment. The expression is most often used in the negative to warn somebody who is at the risk of being carried away.

Example:
#1) A little exercise is good for you, but don't get carried away.
#2) I know your wallet is missing and you think Kevin took it, but don't get carried away with your accusations. Maybe you left it somewhere.
#3) You always get carried away with your work. You should really learn to ask other people for help.
#4) I know your angry with him for lying to you, but don't get carried away. He's still your brother.

I'm Not The Person

When describing your personality, you might want to draw a relationship between yourself and a routine behavior. It's often necessary because English lacks the adjective or title to give you a good description, or because you want to give a more detailed description. To do this, you use the phrase "I'm (not) the type/kind of person who..."

Example:
#1) I'm the type of person who tries to finish my work in a hurry.
#2) He's the type of person who sleeps with a woman and doesn't call her again.
#3) I'm not the kind of person who lets other people do my work for me.
#4) She's not the kind of person who gives her phone number to just anyone.
#5) I'm the type of person who eats everything I see on my plate.
#6) We're the type of couple who does everything together.


A common mistake amongst English learners is using: I'm the person who... This indicates that there is only one person who behaves this way. Example: I'm not the person who kisses a boy and tells everyone. Many people do this, so using "the person" is incorrect. The correct way to use the expression is below:

Example:
#1) I'm not the person who ate your cookie.
#2) He's the person who clogged the toilet.
#3) She's the woman I saw talking to your ex-boyfriend.
#4) I'm the person who left the note in your mailbox.

Expressions for "Knowing"

If you knew what I did, you would... means that one person has more information than the other. The person with more information believes the other is making a mistake by acting on or making a judgment based on that lack of information, and is advising the person not to go through with that action or to alter their judgment.

Example:
#1) If you knew what I did, you wouldn't say that about her.
#2) If you knew what I did, you would start looking for a new job.
#3) If you knew what I did, you would hire a divorce lawyer.


You don't want to know. is usually a response to a question that is better unanswered. It is used to protect the questioner from negative information.

Example:
#1) What were you two arguing about? You don't want to know.
#2) Where have you been for the past two weeks? You don't want to know.
#3) Is David having some kind of problem? You don't want to know.



If only I knew... means you are lacking vital information that will probably significantly effect the future. It is often tied to emotion, and is often the response to a question.

Example:
#1) What are you going to do after the company shuts down? If only I knew.
#2) How does she really feel about you? If only I knew.


I wish I knew then what I know now. means that you made a mistake in the past based on a lack of information. If you had the information in the past, you believe you would have acted differently.

Example: I didn't study in school and I couldn't get a good job later. I wish I knew then what I know now.

Prepositions + Time

Over / In time - refers to an event that took, or will take, a long period of time to occur
Example:
#1) The boy didn't like school, but, in time, he learned to enjoy it more and make friends.
#2) You might not care about me now, but, in time, you will grow to love me.
#3) Over time, the problem will get worse until it finally kills us.
#4) Over time, the man grew bitter and his friends abandoned him.


On time - refers to punctuality
Example: He is usually on time, so why was he late today?


Down time - refers to a period of rest
Example: I've been working hard all week, and I really need some down time.

Detailed Comparisons

When making comparisons, you use more, less or the suffix -er.
To express the highest degree of that adjective, you also the the superlatives most, least or the suffix -est.

Cake is sweeter than bread.
Tokyo is more expensive than New York City.
Lobsters are less intelligent than dolphins.

Blue whales are the largest marine animal.
Rolex watches are the most expensive.
North Dakota is the least populated state in the USA.



There are other words you may use that give a degree of separation between two things.

My father is a little older than my mother.
The Nile river is a little bit longer than the Amazon.
This job is marginally better than my last one.
After four years on college, I'm marginally smarter than I was before.

Living alone is a lot better than living with someone you despise.
Getting a divorce cost me a lot more than the wedding.
My boyfriend is much better looking than my ex-husband.
Life has been much easier since I left him.