Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 115 · B2

unless as long as provided

Unless means except if. As long as, so long as, provided and providing mean only if, on condition that. None of them is followed by will when the meaning is future.

Start the lesson

13Steps · about 24 minutes

In this lesson

unless = except ifA3 screens of questions
as long as / so long as, provided / providingB2 screens of questions
Talking about the future: no willC3 screens of questions

Point A of 3

unless = except if

The car park at the hospital is for staff only.

You can't park here unless you work in the building.

This means: you can't park here except if you work in the building. You can park here only if you work in the building.

unless = except if

if ... not can often stand in for unless.

  • I'll be home by six unless the train is late. (= except if the train is late)
  • The village has no shop. Unless you drive, buying a pint of milk is something of an expedition.
  • "Shall I tell Dad about the scratch on the car?" "Not unless he asks." (= tell him only if he asks)
  • Mum hates making a fuss. She wouldn't ring the doctor unless she was really ill.
  • We could get a takeaway, unless you'd rather cook. (= except if you'd rather cook)
  • Unless we hurry, we'll miss the bus. or If we don't hurry, we'll miss the bus.

Point A · Exercise 115.1 · part 1 of 2

Write a new sentence with the same meaning, using unless.

  1. Example

    You must leave now, or you'll miss the last bus.

    You'll miss the last bus unless you leave now.

    AnswerYou'll miss the last bus unless you leave now.

  2. Wear a hat, or you'll get sunburnt.

  3. He must pay me back, or I'll never lend him money again.

  4. You have to book in advance, or you won't get a table.

  5. The council must repair the roof soon, or the library will have to close.

Point A · Exercise 115.1 · part 2 of 2

Write a new sentence with the same meaning, using unless.

  1. You need to water those tomatoes, or they'll die.

Point A · Exercise 115.2

Write sentences with unless, beginning with the words given.

  1. Example

    The car park isn't for the public. You can park there only if you work at the hospital. (You can't ...)

    You can't park there unless you work at the hospital.

    AnswerYou can't park there unless you work at the hospital.

  2. I don't want to sing on my own. I'll sing only if you sing too. (I'm not ...)

  3. Don't worry about the geese. They'll attack you only if you go near their nest. (The geese ...)

  4. Hayley is very shy. She'll speak only if somebody speaks to her first. (Hayley ...)

  5. It's Sunday. The garage will repair your car only if it's urgent. (The garage ...)

Point B of 3

as long as / so long as, provided / providing

As long as and so long as mean if or on condition that. The first part is allowed, but only with the condition attached.

You can also say provided (that) or providing (that). They are a little more formal, and they mean the same.

condition
You can borrow my bike as long as / so long as you lock it up.
Working from home is fine provided (that) / providing (that) you have a quiet room.
  • You can borrow my bike as long as you lock it up. (= but you must lock it up)
  • You can borrow my bike so long as you lock it up.
  • Working from home is fine provided you have a quiet room. (= it is fine, but only if you have a quiet room)
  • Providing that the flat has a garden, I don't mind where we live.
  • Provided the flat has a garden, I don't mind where we live. (= it must have a garden, but otherwise I don't mind)

Point B · Exercise 115.4 · part 1 of 2

Complete these sentences with your own ideas. They are not marked; the model shows one possible answer.

  1. Example

    We'll miss the start of the film unless ___.

    we leave right now

    Example answerWe'll miss the start of the film unless we leave right now.

  2. I enjoy camping as long as ___.

  3. It takes about an hour to get to Manchester provided ___.

  4. I don't mind cooking as long as ___.

  5. I like to cycle to work unless ___.

Point B · Exercise 115.4 · part 2 of 2

Complete these sentences with your own ideas. They are not marked; the model shows one possible answer.

  1. We can go for a walk later unless ___.

  2. I'll lend you my bike providing ___.

  3. You're welcome to my bike as long as ___.

  4. You won't get any better unless ___.

Point C of 3

Talking about the future: no will

For the future, unless, as long as, so long as, provided and providing are followed by the present, never will. Use a present tense (see Unit 25).

  • I'm not leaving the house unless the snow stops. (not unless it will stop)
  • Providing the trains are running, we're going to Leeds tomorrow. (not providing the trains will be running)

Point C · Exercise 115.3 · part 1 of 3

Which is correct?

  1. Example

    You can stay at the flat as long as you water my plants. (unless / as long as)

    AnswerYou can stay at the flat as long as you water my plants.

  2. We're having a picnic in the garden on Sunday it rains. (unless / providing)

  3. We're having a picnic in the garden on Sunday it's dry. (unless / providing)

  4. I don't mind you practising the drums you stop by nine. (unless / as long as)

  5. I'm off to bed now you need anything else. (unless / provided)

Point C · Exercise 115.3 · part 2 of 3

Which is correct?

  1. I don't drive into town I really have to. (unless / as long as)

  2. Dogs are welcome in the café they're kept on a lead. (unless / provided)

  3. they're kept on a lead, dogs are not welcome in the café. (Unless / Provided)

  4. We can eat inside you'd rather sit in the garden. (unless / as long as)

Point C · Exercise 115.3 · part 3 of 3

Which is correct?

  1. "The wedding cost a fortune." "Did it? Well, that doesn't matter everyone had a good time." (unless / as long as)

Lesson 115 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: as (as I walked ... / as I was ... etc.)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. unless = except if–Not checkedB. as long as / so long as, provided / providing–Not checkedC. Talking about the future: no will–Not checked