Why am I getting an 'Else without previous if' error within a for loop? - c++

Question

I'm new to C++ and have been staring at my (probably abysmal) code for a while and can't figure out what's off about it.
I'm trying to loop through a few iterations of if and else statements and must be doing something grammatically incorrect - as it shows compiler errors of 'else without a previous if'
This is for a class and I'm trying to work it out, but if you see something obvious that I am overlooking I would love to know.
Thank you!
for (i = 0; i < iterationsNum; i++){
if (charlieAlive == 0) // Aarron's shot
{
if (aaronShot() == 1)
charlieAlive = 1;
}
else (charlieAlive == 1 && bobAlive == 0);{
if (aaronShot() == 1)
bobAlive = 1;
}
else (charlieAlive == 1 && bobAlive == 1 && aaronAlive == 0);{
cout << "Aaron is the Winner!\n";
totalShot++;
aaronCounter++;
}
continue;
if (charlieAlive == 0 && aaronAlive ==0) // Bob's shot
{
if (bobShot() == 1)
charlieAlive = 1;
}
else (charlieAlive == 1 && aaronAlive == 0);{
if (bobShot() == 1)
aaronAlive = 1;
}
else (charlieAlive == 1 && aaronAlive == 1 && bobAlive == 0);{
cout << "Bob is the Winner!\n";
bobCounter++;
totalShot++;
}
continue;
if (charlieAlive == 0 && bobAlive == 0) // Charlie's shot
{
bobAlive = 1;
}
else (charlieAlive == 0 && bobAlive == 1 && aaronAlive == 0);{
aaronAlive = 1;
totalShot++;
}
else (charlieAlive == 0 && bobAlive == 1 && aaronAlive == 1);{
cout << "Charlie is the Winner!\n";
}
continue;

Answer 1

else doesn' take any condition, but you've written this:
else (charlieAlive == 1 && bobAlive == 0); //else : (notice semicolon)
which doesn't do what you intend it to do.
You want to do thos:
else if (charlieAlive == 1 && bobAlive == 0) //else if : (semicolon removed)
Notice the difference.
Also, there can be at most one else block, associated with an if block Or a chain of if, else-if, else-if blocks. That is, you can write this:
if (condition) {}
else {}
Or,
if (condition0) {}
else if (condition1) {}
else if (condition2) {}
else if (condition3) {}
else if (condition4) {}
else {}
In any case, else block is always the last block. After that if you write another else block, that would be an error.
Apart from that you also have a semicolon at wrong place. Fixed that also:
else (charlieAlive == 1 && bobAlive == 0); <---- remove this semicolon!
Hope that helps.
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Answer 2

There are several problems I see here:
There are semicolons in your else statements - these aren't supposed to be there
You have multiple else clauses for a single if. Use 'else if' when you are evaluating another condition - else is the catch-all for when no conditions are met
I highly recommend proper indenting and consistent brace usage - not doing this isn't necessarily an error, but it will make it much easier to notice errors.

Answer 3

you cant put condition statement in else statement
correct for all else statements
like in else (charlieAlive == 1 && bobAlive == 0);
else is simply the alternative flow of if - i.e.
if(condition) // if this fails go to else part
{
--- // if condition true execute this
}
else{
--- // will run when condition in if fails
}
so you don't have to put condition for else statement
Edit
where as else if takes condition as well
seems you wanted to do this
else if(your condition statements) // Note: no semicolon at the end