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Û

539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

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UNLESS AND IF … NOT

454

Unless

has a meaning of ‘if … not’ or ‘except if’. Unless and if … not, and unless

and except if are often, but not always, interchangeable. Unless can only normally

refer to things which have not happened or did not happen or probably won’t

happen:

Unless you can reduce the weight of that case, I’m afraid you won’t be allowed

on the flight. 

(or: If you can’t reduce the weight of that case, I’m afraid you won’t be allowed

on the flight.) 

Come over tomorrow afternoon around five, 

unless my secretary contacts you.

(or: Come over tomorrow afternoon around five, except if my secretary

contacts you.)

I always think Dave would be happier 

if he didn’t work so hard.

(unless cannot be used, since Dave does in fact work hard)

(I always think Dave would be happier unless he worked so hard.)

[speakers are talking about plants in their garden which they covered to protect

them from a severe frost which occurred]

A: If we hadn’t covered them, they’d have been ruined.

B: Yes, I think they’d have been dead by now.

(unless cannot be used, since the speakers did in fact cover the plants)

Unless

is used, especially in spoken English, to introduce an additional comment

or afterthought:

We don’t have anyone to captain the team, now Tina’s resigned – 

unless you’re

interested, of course.

A: Do you want to take a break now?

B: Yeah, right.

A: Unless you want to go on for another half an hour or so?