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.
1We can win the championship ............... we avoid bad injuries.
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
"Providing", "provided that", and "as long as" all mean on condition that here.
2I will leave now ............... there is anything left to do.
Wrong!
"Unless" means if not, so it fits the idea that I will leave if there is nothing left to do.
3We can hold the party in the garden ............... it doesn't rain.
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
"Provided that", "providing", and "as long as" all mean on condition that here.
4The public will be admitted to the galleries ............... they make a donation.
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
"Providing", "provided that", and "as long as" all mean on condition that here.
5You can keep the puppy ............... you promise to take care of it.
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
"As long as", "provided that", and "providing" all mean on condition that here.
6You can take my car ............... you drive carefully.
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
"As long as", "provided that", and "providing" all mean on condition that here.
7I can't help you ............... you tell me what is wrong.
Wrong!
"Unless" means if not, so the sentence means I cannot help if you do not tell me the problem.
8I can help you ............... you tell me what is wrong.
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
"Provided that", "providing", and "as long as" all mean on condition that here.
9He wouldn't eat anything ............... he cooked it himself.
Wrong!
"Unless" means if not, so he only ate food when he cooked it himself.
10You can take this seat ............... no one has reserved it.
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
"Providing", "as long as", and "provided that" all mean on condition that here.
11My parents don't care who I marry ............... I am happy.
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
"As long as", "provided that", and "providing" all mean on condition that here.
12You can go out ............... you finish your homework first.
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
"Providing", "provided that", and "as long as" all mean on condition that here.
Answers
- We can win the championship providing / provided that / as long as we avoid bad injuries.
- I will leave now unless there is anything left to do.
- We can hold the party in the garden provided that / providing / as long as it doesn’t rain.
- The public will be admitted to the galleries providing / provided that / as long as they make a donation.
- You can keep the puppy as long as / provided that / providing you promise to take care of it.
- You can take my car as long as / provided that / providing you drive carefully.
- I can’t help you unless you tell me what is wrong.
- I can help you provided that / providing / as long as you tell me what is wrong.
- He wouldn’t eat anything unless he cooked it himself.
- You can take this seat providing / as long as / provided that no one has reserved it.
- My parents don’t care who I marry as long as / provided that / providing I am happy.
- You can go out providing / provided that / as long as you finish your homework first.