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| Date: | 1400-1500 |
| Origin: | on less than 'on a lower condition than' (1400-1500) |
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un‧less S1 W1
1 used to say that something will happen or be true if something else does not happen or is not true : 
Unless some extra money is found, the theatre will close.I think you should complain - unless, of course, you are happy with the way things are. He won't go to sleep unless you tell him a story. I can't leave her unless I know she's all right. ➔ see usage note except1
Unless some extra money is found, the theatre will close.I think you should complain - unless, of course, you are happy with the way things are.He won't go to sleep unless you tell him a story.I can't leave her unless I know she's all right.WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
unless, if ... not, in case, or (else) Use unless to say that something will happen or be true if something else does not happen or is not true • Unless they get protection, they will not testify.!! Do not use the future tense after unless • I won't go unless you go (NOT unless you will go).!! Do not say 'unless if' • Don't call him unless it's urgent (NOT unless if it's urgent). Use if ... not when you know that something did not or will not happen • If he had not tripped, he would have won (=but he didn't win). | • I would go out if it wasn't raining (=but it is raining, so I am not going out). Use in case when talking about something that is or should be done because something might happen • Take a sweater in case you get cold (NOT unless you get cold). Use or or or else to say what bad thing will definitely happen if something else does not happen • You'd better go, or else you'll miss the train (NOT unless you miss the train).WORD CHOICE:WORD CHOICE:
except, besides, apart from, unlessexcept means 'not including' or 'but not' • They invited everyone except Julie.besides means 'in addition to' • Besides Italy (NOT except Italy), I would like to visit France and Spain.apart from can be used with either meaning • I ate everything apart from (OR except) the soup. • What do you like doing apart from (OR besides) swimming?except is not used to introduce another clause. Use unless or except if, except when, except while, except that • We won't go unless you really want to (NOT except you really want to). • I cycle to work, except when it rains (NOT except it rains). In spoken English, people sometimes leave out 'that' • The play went well, except (that) a few people forgot their lines. ➔ See also except
WORD CHOICE: unless, if ... not, in case, or (else) Use unless to say that something will happen or be true if something else does not happen or is not true • Unless they get protection, they will not testify.!! Do not use the future tense after unless • I won't go unless you go (NOT unless you will go).!! Do not say 'unless if' • Don't call him unless it's urgent (NOT unless if it's urgent). Use if ... not when you know that something did not or will not happen • If he had not tripped, he would have won (=but he didn't win). | • I would go out if it wasn't raining (=but it is raining, so I am not going out). Use in case when talking about something that is or should be done because something might happen • Take a sweater in case you get cold (NOT unless you get cold). Use or or or else to say what bad thing will definitely happen if something else does not happen • You'd better go, or else you'll miss the train (NOT unless you miss the train).WORD CHOICE:
WORD CHOICE: except, besides, apart from, unlessexcept means 'not including' or 'but not' • They invited everyone except Julie.besides means 'in addition to' • Besides Italy (NOT except Italy), I would like to visit France and Spain.apart from can be used with either meaning • I ate everything apart from (OR except) the soup. • What do you like doing apart from (OR besides) swimming?except is not used to introduce another clause. Use unless or except if, except when, except while, except that • We won't go unless you really want to (NOT except you really want to). • I cycle to work, except when it rains (NOT except it rains). In spoken English, people sometimes leave out 'that' • The play went well, except (that) a few people forgot their lines. ➔ See also except
