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.
A 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
Instead of unless, it is often possible to say if ... not.
- 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.
B 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)
C Talking about the future: no will
When the meaning is future, do not use will after unless, as long as, so long as, provided or providing. 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)
Exercises
115.1 Write a new sentence with the same meaning, using unless.
You must leave now, or you'll miss the last bus.
You'll miss the last bus unless you leave now.
You'll miss the last bus unless you leave now.
Wear a hat, or you'll get sunburnt.
You'll get sunburnt unless you wear a hat.
He must pay me back, or I'll never lend him money again.
I'll never lend him money again unless he pays me back.
You have to book in advance, or you won't get a table.
You won't get a table unless you book in advance.
The council must repair the roof soon, or the library will have to close.
The library will have to close unless the council repairs the roof soon.
You need to water those tomatoes, or they'll die.
Those tomatoes will die unless you water them.
115.2 Write sentences with unless, beginning with the words given.
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.
You can't park there unless you work at the hospital.
I don't want to sing on my own. I'll sing only if you sing too. (I'm not ...)
I'm not singing unless you sing too.
Don't worry about the geese. They'll attack you only if you go near their nest. (The geese ...)
The geese won't attack you unless you go near their nest.
Hayley is very shy. She'll speak only if somebody speaks to her first. (Hayley ...)
Hayley won't speak unless somebody speaks to her first.
It's Sunday. The garage will repair your car only if it's urgent. (The garage ...)
The garage won't repair your car unless it's urgent.
115.3 Which is correct?
You can stay at the flat ___ you water my plants. (unless / as long as)
as long as
You can stay at the flat as long as you water my plants.
We're having a picnic in the garden on Sunday ___ it rains. (unless / providing)
We're having a picnic in the garden on Sunday unless it rains.
We're having a picnic in the garden on Sunday ___ it's dry. (unless / providing)
We're having a picnic in the garden on Sunday providing it's dry.
I don't mind you practising the drums ___ you stop by nine. (unless / as long as)
I don't mind you practising the drums as long as you stop by nine.
I'm off to bed now ___ you need anything else. (unless / provided)
I'm off to bed now unless you need anything else.
I don't drive into town ___ I really have to. (unless / as long as)
I don't drive into town unless I really have to.
Dogs are welcome in the café ___ they're kept on a lead. (unless / provided)
Dogs are welcome in the café provided they're kept on a lead.
___ they're kept on a lead, dogs are not welcome in the café. (Unless / Provided)
Unless they're kept on a lead, dogs are not welcome in the café.
We can eat inside ___ you'd rather sit in the garden. (unless / as long as)
We can eat inside unless you'd rather sit in the garden.
"The wedding cost a fortune." "Did it? Well, that doesn't matter ___ everyone had a good time." (unless / as long as)
"The wedding cost a fortune." "Did it? Well, that doesn't matter as long as everyone had a good time."
115.4 Complete these sentences with your own ideas. They are not marked; the model shows one possible answer.
We'll miss the start of the film unless ___.
Example answer: We'll miss the start of the film unless we leave right now.
I enjoy camping as long as ___.
Example answer: I enjoy camping as long as it doesn't rain.
It takes about an hour to get to Manchester provided ___.
Example answer: It takes about an hour to get to Manchester provided the traffic isn't too bad.
I don't mind cooking as long as ___.
Example answer: I don't mind cooking as long as somebody else does the washing-up.
I like to cycle to work unless ___.
Example answer: I like to cycle to work unless it's pouring with rain.
We can go for a walk later unless ___.
Example answer: We can go for a walk later unless you're too tired.
I'll lend you my bike providing ___.
Example answer: I'll lend you my bike providing you bring it back by Friday.
I'll tell you what happened as long as ___.
Example answer: I'll tell you what happened as long as you promise not to tell anyone.
You won't get any better unless ___.
Example answer: You won't get any better unless you practise every day.