UNLESS

Unless means the same as if...not. Like if, unless is followed by a present tense, a past
tense, or a past perfect tense (never by a conditional). Unless is used instead of if...not in
conditional sentences of all types. The order of the clauses doesn't matter with sentences
using unless.
(Edufind.com, n.d.)
Unless = except if, only if and if not.
The club is for members only.
You cant go in unless you are a member.
You cant go in except if you are a member.
You cant go in only if you are a member.
(Grammar)
TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL: UNLESS + PRESENT TENSE
With If

Equivalent with Unless

You will be sick if you don't stop eating.

You'll be sick unless you stop eating.

I won't pay if you don't provide the goods

immediately.

I won't pay unless you provide the goods

immediately.

If you don't study dilligently, you'll never

understand trigonometry.

Unless you study dilligently, you'll never

understand trigonometry.

TYPE 2 CONDITIONAL: UNLESS + PAST TENSE

With If

Equivalent with Unless

If he wasn't very ill, he would be at work.

Unless he was very ill, he would be at work.

I wouldn't eat that food if I wasn't really

hungry.

I wouldn't eat that food unless I was really

hungry.

She would be here by now if she wasn't stuck

in traffic.

She would be here by now unless she was stuck

in traffic.

TYPE 3 CONDITIONAL: UNLESS + PAST PERFECT

With If

Equivalent with Unless

Our director would not have signed the

contract if she hadn't had a lawyer present.

Our director would not have signed the contract

unless she had had a lawyer present.

I wouldn't have phoned him if you hadn't

suggested it.

I wouldn't have phoned him unless you'd

suggested it.

They would have shot her if she hadn't given

them the money.

They would have shot her unless she'd given

them the money.

(Edufind.com, n.d.)
Only we us unless in warnings for example:
Unless you work much harder, you dont pass the exam.

AS LONG AS
We use as long as to express a condition, to say that something will happen only on
condition that something else happens.
(Speakspeak, n.d.)
As long as = If or Condition that
I'll lend you the book as long as you promise to give me it back next week.
(= If you don't promise to give the book back next week, I will not lend you it.)
As long as expresses that one thing depends on another.
You can go to the party as long as you come back before midnight.
(= You can go to the party, but you must promise to be back before midnight.)
(Speakspeak, n.d.)
PROVIDED (THAT) AND PROVIDING (THAT)
Provided and providing these expressions mean IF or CONDITION THAT is the same
that AS LONG AS for example:

Travelling by car is convenient provided (that) you have somewhere to park.

Travelling by car is convenient provided (that) you have somewhere to park.

(Speakspeak, n.d.)
No need for that
The word THAT can be omitted for example:
Provided that the weather is fine, well have a picnic on Saturday.
Provided the weather is fine, well have a picnic on Saturday.
Unless, as long as and provided or providing can be at the beginning or at the
middle but when we use at the beginning we must use comma.

Bibliografa
Edufind.com. (s.f.). Edufind.com. Recuperado el 01 de noviembre de 2015, de
Edufind.com: http://www.edufind.com/english-grammar/using-unless/

English, L. (s.f.). Learn English. Recuperado el 01 de noviembre de 2015, de Learn

English: http://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/how-use-unless-and-as-long
Grammar. (s.f.). Unless. As long as, Provided/Providing. En G. VI, Grammar VI (pgs. If,
203- Units 25, 38-40).
Speakspeak. (s.f.). Speakspeak. Recuperado el 01 de noviembre de 2015, de Speakspeak:
http://speakspeak.com/resources/english-grammar-rules/various-grammar-rules/aslong-as-provided-providing

ACTIVITIES
1. ____ you are caught drinking, you will lose your license.
2. ____ you stop smoking, youll be seriously ill.
3. ____ he gets caught, hell go to the jail.

4. ____ she pays up, were going to be in a real trouble.

5. ____ we get the check today, we must bank it.
6. I will be here _______ he is here.
7. I will come ________ you are there.
8. You can join us ________ you contribute.
9. ____________ you have a good credit score, you can borrow the money.
10. You are here, why you dont play a round of poker with us?
11.You can take the day off ___________ you promise to come in early on Monday.
12.I will buy a car ________that I have enough money.
13._________that she studies hard, shell pass her exam.
14.__________that the bills are paid, tenants will not be evicted.
15.__________that the room is clean, I dont mind which hotel we stay at.

ANSWERS
1.
2.
3.
4.

If
Unless
If
Unless

5. If
6. As long as
7. As long as
8. As long as
9. As long as
10. As long as
11. As long as
12. Provided/providing
13. Provided/providing
14. Provided/providing
15. Provided/providing

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO

FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACION HUMANAS Y TECNOLOGIAS
ESCUELA DE IDIOMAS
Name:
Class:

Date:

OBJECTIVE: To know what is the meaning and uses of unless, as long as and provided or
providing and when we must use them.
TIME: 10 MINUTES

(1 mark of each one)

INSTRUCTION: Write a new sentence with the same meaning. Use unless in your
sentences.
1. You are allowed into the club only if you are a member.
_____________________________________________
2. I am going to the party only if you go too.
_____________________________________________
3. The dog will attack you only if you move suddenly.
_____________________________________________
4. Hell speak to you only if you ask him a question.
_____________________________________________
5. The doctor will see you today only if its an emergency.
_____________________________________________
2. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD OR EXPRESSIONFOR EACH SENTENCE:
6. You can use my car unless/as long as you drive carefully.
7. I dont mind if you come in late unless/as long as you come in quietly.
8. I dont watch television unless/as long as Ive got nothing else to do.
9. Children are allowed to use the pool unless/provided they are with an adult.
10. We can sit here in the corner unless/as long as youd rather sit over there by the
window.