"or" or "and" after a negative clause

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neo

#78582 Sat, 05 Mar 05 04:52 AM

Hello, I have a question.

1. Bring your umbrella, or you'll get get drenched tonight.
2. Bring your umbrella, and you won't get drenched tonight.

The above sentences make sence with regard to the usage of
"or" and "and." I mean:

or = if you do the opposite of "bring your umbrella"
and= if you do "bring your umbrella"

Now, what if a conditional clause is a negative clause?

Which one makes sence if I want to say "if you press the
button, it will explode"?

3. Don't press the button, or it'll explode.
4. Don't press the button, and it'll explode.

Thank you,

neo

Joined on Sun, Oct 31 2004

New Member (26)

Clauses, Conditionals, Negatives, Regards

CalifJim

#78589 Sat, 05 Mar 05 05:13 AM

Sentence 3 makes sense as an alternative to "If you press the button, it will explode", not Sentence 4.

On the other hand, "Don't bother to take that medicine, and your cold will clear up on its own" would be a way of saying "(Even) if you don't bother to take that medicine, your cold will clear up on its own".

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (16,928)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Negatives

neo

#78623 Sat, 05 Mar 05 09:07 AM

Thanks CJ. I got it!

neo

Negatives

neo

#79130 Mon, 07 Mar 05 10:10 AM

CJ,

When I was watching TV, somebody said, "don't move, and you'll die."
Wouldn't that contradict the advice you gave?

Thanks,

neo

Negatives

pieanne

#79132 Mon, 07 Mar 05 10:18 AM

Maybe a plane was going to crash on him/her, so if she/he didn't move, he/she'd die? Although when I think of the time it takes to actually SAY the sentence, the person would already have been dead...

pieanne

Joined on Thu, Jan 20 2005

South of France ...But I'm Belgian!

Veteran Member (7,512)

I'm glad to help, but I'm not a native! And please excuse my typos...

Negatives

neo

#79483 Tue, 08 Mar 05 08:11 AM

Thanks for responding to my question pieanne.

I'm sorry I wasn't clear with the question.

"Don't move, and you'll die." was used by a terrorist (male) who clearly meant,
"I'll shoot you if you move," as he pointed his gun at a woman.

I will be grateful if you guys give me some comments on this.

Thanks!

neo