ESCOLA SECUNDRIA DE HENRIQUES NOGUEIRA

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES: RULES & PRINTABLE WORKSHEET

Grammar: 'unless' and 'if'

Unless = if not.
This is a good example of a 'rule of thumb' one that is easy to remember and apply,
but which is only a part of the whole story. Better to think of unless as meaning except
if; except under these circumstances. So:
Ill be at your place at 9.00, unless [= except if] the bus is late.
The front room was never used, unless [= except if] we had important visitors.
In the first sentence there is only one reason why I might be prevented from being at
your place at 9.00, and that would be the bus being late. This is what Swan means when
he said A will happen if its not stopped by B. Likewise, in the second sentence there
was only one circumstance when the front room was used: when we had important
visitors.
But unless is unlikely here:
Ill be angry if the bus isnt on time.
In this sentence the bus not being on time is the reason for my being angry. That is what
Swan means when he says A will result from something not happening.
The following sentence:
Ill be angry unless [= except if] the bus is on time.
That means: the only thing that will prevent me from being angry is the bus being on
time which sounds strange to say the least. Here are some more examples like that,
where unless isnt possible:
1. If you dont like it, you can leave.
2. If she wasnt so bossy, shed be quite nice.
3. If I didnt know a word, Id look it up.

UNLESS
Unless means the same as if...not. Like if, it is followed by a present tense, a past tense
or a past perfect (never by 'would'). It is used instead of if + not in conditional sentences
of all types:
Type 1: (Unless + present simple)

a. You'll be sick unless you stop eating. (= You will be sick if you don't
stop eating)
b. I won't pay unless you provide the goods immediately. (= If you don't
provide them I won't pay)
c. You'll never understand English unless you study this grammar
carefully. (= You'll never understand if you don't study...)

Type 2: (Unless + past simple)

a. Unless he was very ill, he would be at work.

b. I wouldn't eat that food unless I was really hungry.
c. She would be here by now unless she was stuck in the traffic.

Type 3: (Unless + past perfect)

a. The lady would never have seen the little mouse unless she'd had
perfect eyesight. (meaning, she actually saw it)
b. I wouldn't have phoned him unless you'd suggested it.
c. They would have shot her unless she'd given them the money.

 Now, its time to start practicing.

Simply, download this exercise and hand it back to your teacher.

Name: _______________________________________________________ Number: ______

If or Unless?
Choose the correct word.
Q1 - ___ you are caught drinking and driving, you will lose your license.
If
Unless
Q2 - ____ you stop smoking, you'll be seriously ill.
If
Unless
Q3 - I won't be able to do it ____ you help me.
if
unless
Either could be used here.
Q4 - ____ you stop making that noise, I'll call the police.
If
Unless
Either could be used here.
Q5 - ____ you're late, I'll leave without you.
If
Unless
Either could be used here.
Q6 - ___ he gets caught, he'll make a fortune.
If
Unless

Q7 - ____ he gets caught, he'll go to jail.

If
Unless

Q8 - I won't do it ____ you agree to help me; I'm not doing it alone.
if
unless
Q9 - ___ she pays up, we're going to be in real trouble.
If
Unless
Q10 - ____ we get the cheque today, we must bank it.
If
Unless
Q11 - She'll never agree to that ____ you accept her suggestions.
if
unless
Q12 - ____ they're late again, I'll be furious.
If
Unless
Q13 - I don't want to go out ____ it's raining- I hate getting wet.
if
unless
Q14 - We'll be in trouble ____ it goes wrong.
if
unless

Antnio Andrade