return and echo in the same function - php

Question

I'm trying to add some HTML code via echo inside this PHP code:
if( $quantity == 0 )
return __("ZERO ITEMS");
elseif( $quantity > 0 && $quantity <= 5 )
return $quantity;
elseif( $quantity > 5 )
return __("OVER 5 ITEMS");
When the $quantity is 3, for example, I want to return the quantity and also have the word "ITEMS" echo'd after it. So "3 ITEMS" instead of just "3".

Answer 1

If there are 3 items, your control will go to else if.
You are returning only $quantity that is number.
You need to concatenate the string ITEMS after $quantity
...
elseif( $quantity > 0 && $quantity <= 5 )
return $quantity . ' ITEMS';
...

Answer 2

You can do this:
if ( $quantity == 0 )
return __("ZERO ITEMS");
else if( $quantity > 0 && $quantity <= 5 ) {
$itemText = ($quantity == 1) ? 'ITEM' : 'ITEMS';
echo $quantity . ' ' . $itemText;
return $quantity . ' ' . $itemText;
} else if( $quantity > 5 )
return __("OVER 5 ITEMS");
You can have 1, so it's interesting to show ITEM or ITEMS

Answer 3

You can do this like below.
$post_str = 'ITEMS';
if( $quantity == 0 )
return __("ZERO ".$post_str);
elseif( $quantity > 0 && $quantity <= 5 )
return $quantity.' '.$post_str;
elseif( $quantity > 5 )
return __("OVER 5 ".$post_str);