← Python

elif Statements

elif adds extra conditions to check when the preceding if (or elif) was False

What it does: elif is checked only if the previous if was False. elif can use any comparison operator including ==. elif is short for 'else if' — it adds another condition to check. x > 10 is False, so Python checks elif — 5 > 3 is True, so 'Medium' prints. You can chain as many elif blocks as you need. elif must always follow an if — it can't stand alone. x > 5 is True immediately — elif is never even checked. Like if, elif lines must end with a colon.

Common mistakes: Python uses elif, not 'else if' (no space). elif cannot appear without an if statement before it.

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Learning

Duo

What does elif stand for?

else ifelse in function

Matches

❌ else if x > 5: print('mid')

↓

Error: Use elif not 'else if'

Applying

Meanings

Term

elif

Meaning

Short for 'else if' - checks another condition if the previous was False.

Practice

x = 5

Testing

Gaps

x > 5:

Check Answer

Spots

2 print('Big')

3else if x > 5:

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Quick Questions

1. What does elif stand for?

A. else if ✓

B. else in function

elif is short for 'else if' — it adds another condition to check

2. When does an elif block run?

A. Always

B. When the if above is False and elif is True ✓

elif only gets checked when all previous if/elif conditions were False

3. x = 5\nif x > 10:\n print('Big')\nelif x > 3:\n print('Medium')\nWhat prints?

A. Medium ✓

B. Big

x > 10 is False, so Python checks elif — 5 > 3 is True, so 'Medium' prints

4. Can you have multiple elif blocks?

A. No

B. Yes ✓

You can chain as many elif blocks as you need

5. Can elif appear before if?

A. No if must come first ✓

B. Yes

elif must always follow an if — it can't stand alone

Match the Pairs

else if x > 5: print('mid') → Error: Use elif not 'else if'

elif x > 5 print('mid') → Error: Missing colon after elif

if x > 10: print('big') elif x > 5: print('mid') → Valid: elif checks next condition

elif score == 100: print('perfect') → Ok: elif with == comparison

x = 7 if x > 10: print('big') elif x > 5: print('mid') → Output: mid

x = 15 if x > 10: print('big') elif x > 5: print('mid') → Output: big

Key Term

elif

Short for 'else if' - checks another condition if the previous was False.~~Chaining

Fill in the Blanks

1. if x > 10: print('Big') elif x > 5: print('Medium')

2. if score >= 90: print('A') elif score >= 80: print('B')

3. if age >= 18: print('Adult') elif age >= 13: print('Teen')

4. if temp >= 35: print('Hot') elif temp >= 25: print('Warm')

5. if day == 'Monday': print('Start') elif day == 'Saturday': print('Weekend')

Spot the Error

Question 1

A if x > 10:

B print('Big')

C else if x > 5:

D print('Medium')

Line C — Python uses elif, not 'else if' (no space)

Question 2

A x = 7

B elif x > 5:

C print('Medium')

Line B — elif cannot appear without an if statement before it

Question 3

A if x > 10:

B print('Big')

C elif x > 5

D print('Medium')

Line C — Missing colon at the end of the elif line

Question 4

A if x > 10:

B print('Big')

C Elif x > 5:

D print('Medium')

Line C — elif must be lowercase — Elif is not valid Python

Question 5

A if x > 10:

B print('Big')

C elif x > 5:

D print('Medium')

Line D — The print inside elif must be indented

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