A. Unless
Study this example situation:
* The club is for members only.
* You can't go in unless you are a member.
This means:
* You can,t go in except if you are a member.
* You can go in only if you are a member.
unless = except if.
Some more examples of unless:
*I'll see you tomorrow unless I have to work late. (= except if I have to work late)
* There are no buses to the beach. Unless you have a car, ifs difficult to get there.
(= except if you have a car)
* 'Shall I tell Liz what happened? 'Not unless she asks you.' (= only if she asks you)
* Sally hates to complain. She wouldn't complain about something unless it was really bad.
( = except if it was really bad)
* We can take a taxi to the restaurant - unless you'd prefer to walk. (= except if you'd prefer
to walk)
Instead of unless it is often possible to say if ... not:
* Unless we leave now, we'll be late. or If we don't leave now, we'll ...
B. As long as / provided / providing
as long as or so long as , , ,
provided (that) or providing (that)
All these expressions mean 'if or on condition that…'.
For example:
as long as
* You can orrow my car
you promise not to drive too fast.
so long as
(=you can borrow my car, but you must promise not to drive too fast - this is a condition)
provided
* Travelling by car is convenient
(that) you have somewhere to park.
providmg
(= but only if you have somewhere to park)
* Providing (that)
the room is clean, I don't mind which hotel we stay at.
Provided (that)
(= the room must be clean - otherwise I don't mind)
C. Unless / as long as , etc. for the future
When you are talking about the future, do not use will after unless / as long as / so long as /
provided / providing. Use a present tense:
* I'm not going out unless it stops raining. (not unless it will stop)
* Providing the weather is good, we're going to have a picnic tomorrow.
(not providing the weather will be good)

EXERCISES
A. Write a new sentence with the same meaning. Use unless in your sentence.
1. You must try a bit harder or you won't pass the exam.
=> You won't pass the exam unless you try a bit harder.
2. Listen carefully or you won't know what to do.
You won't know what to do …………………………..
3. She must apologise to me or I'll never speak to her again.
4. You have to speak very slowly or he won 't be able to understand you.
5. Business must improve soon or the company will have to close.
B. Write sentences with unless.
1. The club isn't open to everyone. You 're allowed in only if you're a member.
=> You aren't allowed in the club unless you're a member.
2. I don't want to go to the party alone. I'm going only if you go too.
I'm not going …………………………….
3. Don't worry about the dog. lt will attack you only if you move suddenly.
The dog …………………………..............
4. Ben isn't very talkative. He'll speak to you only if you ask him something.
Ben ………………………………………..
5. Today is a public holiday. The doctor will see you only if it's an emergency.
The doctor ………………………………...
C. Which is correct?
1 You can borrow my car unless / as long as you promise not to drive too fast.
(as long as is correct)
2. I'm playing tennis tomorrow unless / providing it rains.
3. I'm playing tennis tomorrow unless / providing it doesn't rain.
4. I don't mind if you come home late unless / as long as you come in quietly.
5. I'm going now unless / provided you want me to stay.
6. I don't watch TV unless / as long as I've got nothing else to do.
7 Children are allowed to use the swimming pool unless / provided they are with an adult.
8. Unless / Provided they are with an adult, children are not allowed to use the swimming pool.
9. We can sit here in the corner unless / as long as you'd rather sit over there by the window.
10. A: Our holiday cost a lot of money.
B: Did it? Well, that doesn't matter unless / as long as you enjoyed yourselves.
D. Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.
1. We'll be late unless we get a taxi.
2. I like hot weather as long …………………………..
3. It takes about 20 minutes to drive to the airport provided …………………………..
4. I don't mind walking home as long as …………………………..
5. I like to walk to work in the morning unless.............................................................
6. We can meet tomorrow unless ...................................................
7. I can lend you the money providing ..........................................................................
8. You won't achieve anything unless ............................................

ANSWER KEY
A.
2. You won't know what to do unless you listen carefully.
3. I'll never speak to her again unless she apologises to me.
or Unless she apologises to me, I'll ...
4. He won't be able to understand you unless you speak very slowly.
or Unless you speak very slowly, he ...
5. The company will have to close unless business improves soon.
or Unless business improves soon, the company ...
B.
2. I'm not going (to the party) unless you go too. / ... unless you're going t oo.
3 The dog won't attack you unless you move suddenly.
4 Ben won't speak to you unlessyou ask him something.
5 The doctor won't see you unless it's an emergency
C.
2. unless
6 unless
10. as long as

3. providing
7. provided

4. as long as
8. unless

5. unless
9. unless

D. Example answers:
2. it's not too hot
4. it isn't raining\
6. you have something else to do
8. you take risks

3. there isn't too much traffic
5. I'm in a hurry
7. you pay it back next week

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