Table of Contents
If Or Unless
Some students are not sure whether to use if or unless. The difference is, however, straightforward. This page will try to provide an explanation of these two words and show how they are used in conditional sentences.
What Do “If And Unless” Mean?
What Does “If” Mean?
If means on (the) condition that, provided (that), providing (that), presuming (that), supposing (that), assuming (that), as long as…
Example:
- If I am free this evening, I will watch the match.
What Does “Unless” Mean?
Unless means except if.
Example:
- You will feel cold unless you wear a warm jacket.
Use Of “If and unless” in conditional sentences
Both if and unless are used to introduce conditional sentences:
Conditional Sentence Type 1:
- If we don’t hurry, we will be late for the show.
- Unless we hurry, we will be late for the show.
Conditional Sentence Type 2
- If he had permission from his parents, he would travel alone.
- Unless he had permission from his parents, he wouldn’t travel alone.
Conditional Sentence Type 3
- If you hadn’t suggested it, I wouldn’t have phoned him.
- Unless you had suggested it, I wouldn’t have phoned him.
Here’s a summarized table of the key points about “if” and “unless” in conditional sentences:
| Aspect | If | Unless |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | On (the) condition that, provided (that),… | Except if |
| Conditional Sentence Type 1 | If we don’t hurry, we will be late for the show. | Unless we hurry, we will be late for the show. |
| Conditional Sentence Type 2 | If he had permission, he would travel alone | Unless he had permission, he wouldn’t alone |
| Conditional Sentence Type 3 | If you hadn’t suggested it, I wouldn’t wouldn’t have phoned him. | Unless you had suggested it, I wouldn’t have phoned him. |
Related pages:
- Conditionals
- Understanding Zero Conditional Sentences: Rules, Uses, and Examples
- Mastering the First Conditional: A Guide to Expressing Real Possibilities
- Understanding the Third Conditional: Expressing Unreal Past Scenarios
- If or Unless
- Conditional sentences type 1 exercise
- Conditional sentences type 2 exercise
- Conditional sentences type 3 exercise
- Conditional sentences type (Mixed)
- Conditional sentences (Mixed)
- Listen to “If you Were a Sailboat” by Katie Melua.