The expressions providing, provided that and as long as have very similar meanings and are usually interchangeable. They are used before saying the conditions that make something else happen or be true. Unless is similar to if not.
Test your understanding of these expressions with this grammar exercise.
1. We can win the championship, .......................... we avoid bad injuries.
Providing has a similar meaning to if.
2. I will leave now, .............................. there is anything left to do now.
Unless has a similar meaning to if not.
3. We can hold the party in the garden ............................. it doesn't rain.
Provided means on condition that.
4. The public will be admitted to the galleries, ........................... they make a donation.
Providing means on condition that.
5. You can keep the puppy ................................... you promise to take care of it.
Please select 2 correct answers
Both expressions are possible here.
6. You can take my car ............................... you drive carefully.
As long as and provided that mean 'on condition that'.
7. I can't help you ............................ you tell me what is wrong.
Unless means if not. The above sentence can also be written as: I can help you if you tell me what is wrong.
8. I can help you ............................... you tell me what is wrong.
Provided that means on condition that.
9. He wouldn't eat anything .................................. he cooked it himself.
10. You can take this seat, ............................... no one has reserved it.
Please select 2 correct answers
Providing and as long as are possible here. They both mean 'on condition that'.
11. My parents don't care who I marry .......................... I am happy.
12. You can go out now .............................. you finish your homework first.
All of these expressions mean the same,
Answers
1. We can win the championship, providing we avoid bad injuries.
2. I will leave now, unless there is anything left to do now.
3. We can hold the party in the garden provided that it doesn’t rain.
4. The public will be admitted to the galleries, providing they make a donation.
5. You can keep the puppy as long as you promise to take care of it.
6. You can take my car as long as you drive carefully.
7. I can’t help you unless you tell me what is wrong.
8. I can help you as long as you tell me what is wrong.
9. He wouldn’t eat anything unless he cooked it himself.
10. You can take this seat, providing / provided that / as long as no one has reserved it.
11. My parents don’t care who I marry as long as I am happy.
12. You can go out now providing / provided that / as long as you finish your homework first.
