Unless means ‘if not’. These words are often confused. Complete the following sentences using if or unless.
1............... you eat too much, you will fall ill.
Wrong!
Use "If" to introduce a possible condition and its result.
2............... he doesn’t mend his ways, he will lose his job.
Wrong!
Use "If" with a negative condition such as "he doesn’t mend his ways".
3............... you don’t stop smoking, you will fall seriously ill.
Wrong!
Use "If" with the negative condition "you don’t stop smoking".
4I wouldn’t have won ............... he hadn’t helped me.
Wrong!
Use "if" to mean that his help was the necessary condition for winning.
5............... he mends his ways, he will land in serious trouble.
Wrong!
Use "Unless" to mean "if he does not mend his ways".
6I will take the job ............... the pay is too low.
Wrong!
Use "unless" to mean that low pay would stop you from taking the job.
7I will be back tomorrow ............... there is a train strike.
Wrong!
Use "unless" to mean "if there is not" a train strike.
8I will quit my job ............... they don’t offer me a raise.
Wrong!
Use "if" with the negative condition "they don’t offer me a raise".
9I will be surprised ............... she doesn’t recognize me.
Wrong!
Use "if" with the negative condition "she doesn’t recognize me".
10You will look prettier ............... you don’t wear so much make-up.
Wrong!
Use "if" with the negative condition "you don’t wear so much make-up".
Answers
- If you eat too much, you will fall ill.
- If he doesn’t mend his ways, he will lose his job.
- If you don’t stop smoking, you will fall seriously ill.
- I wouldn’t have won if he hadn’t helped me.
- Unless he mends his ways, he will land in serious trouble.
- I will take the job unless the pay is too low.
- I will be back tomorrow unless there is a train strike.
- I will quit my job if they don’t offer me a raise.
- I will be surprised if she doesn’t recognize me.
- You will look prettier if you don’t wear so much make-up.
