Questions tagged [unless]
The unless tag has no usage guidance.
19
questions
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'Unless' in hypothetical constructions
I have been told that 'unless' can't be used in hypothetical clauses as follows:
Unless Ann had studied hard, she would have failed the exam.
My question is, why is using 'unless' in the ...
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1answer
63 views
How “unless” and “until” affect the structure and meaning of a complex sentence
Here is an excerpt from a book I’m reading:
Unless consumed in highly skilled ritual contexts, as is practiced
in many traditional societies, what drugs in fact do is reduce our
per...
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0answers
309 views
“Unless instructed to do so” vs “Unless instructed otherwise” preferred usage
I want to give a short but clear instruction like:
1. Please do NOT perform X unless instructed to do so.
2. Please do NOT perform X unless instructed otherwise.
Which one would be a better option ...
2
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2answers
577 views
Limitations of 'unless' in remote conditionals
Regarding the use of unless in a remote conditional*, The Cambridge Grammar (p755) says:
Unless occurs in open conditionals and, less freely, remote ones:
[52]
...
iv I wouldn't ...
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1answer
93 views
Where does negation go with “if” vs “unless”?
1(Q) - Unless he finds a job soon, his family will starve.
1(A) - If he doesn't find a job soon, his family will starve.
2(Q) - Unless she leaves now, she will miss the train.
2(A) - If she ...
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1answer
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In 'unless', how would've 'negative connotation' caused 'on' to change to 'un'?
unless (conj.)
mid-15c., earlier onlesse,
from (not) on lesse (than) "(not) on a less compelling condition (than);" see less.
The first syllable originally on, but the negative connotation ...
asked Apr 8 '18 at 23:34
Greek - Area 51 Proposal
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What does (not) signify in: (not) on lesse (than)?
unless (conj.)
mid-15c., earlier onlesse,
from (not) on lesse (than) "(not) on a less compelling condition (than);" see less.
The first syllable originally on, but the negative connotation ...
asked Mar 30 '18 at 3:22
Greek - Area 51 Proposal
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0answers
392 views
Clarification on usage of “unless…” sentence structure
So recently I stumbled across a pair of sentences in an exercise which made me question the usage of "unless" when it is used at the beginning of the sentence.
In this post, I'd like to clarify which ...
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2answers
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Is “Unless you had told me about Sue's hair, I wouldn't have noticed it” correct and natural-sounding?
I find it natural to say "If you hadn't told me about Sue's hair, I wouldn't have noticed it", but when if-not is substituted with unless in this specific sentence it sounds weird.
I've found a ...
2
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1answer
374 views
“Unless” at the end of the sentence
I was just wondering what does it mean when people use of the word "unless" at the end of the sentence. As far as I know, I only hear people say something like "Unless you work hard, you will fail." ...
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658 views
Incorrect usage of unless
Why can't the conditional
I would go to bed if I wasn't waiting for a phone call
be transformed thus
I would go to bed unless I was/wasn't waiting for a phone call
A student asked me why this ...
-1
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1answer
556 views
Rephrasing a sentence using 'unless' [closed]
How do you rephrase this sentence using 'unless':
When my brother is not in a good mood, he will keep his bedroom door shut.
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600 views
When do we use subjunctive after “unless”?
In this sentence:
The body will not be kept comfortable unless the air be maintained at a temperature higher than necessary.
Why did the author use "be maintained"?
When do we use subjunctive ...
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1answer
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How does 'unless' mean 'or'?
Source: p 319, A Concise Introduction to Logic (12 Ed, 2014), by Patrick Hurley
in propositional logic it is usually simpler to equate “unless”
with “or.”
In and using only ordinary English (...
asked Dec 29 '15 at 22:12
Greek - Area 51 Proposal
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0
votes
1answer
6k views
Can I begin a sentence with, “Unless, that is …”?
Given a rather long sentence that finishes with something like:
... and therefore, you need not submit that form.
Is it allowable to start the next sentence with, "Unless, that is, you .....", or ...
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302 views
How to understand 'unless' = 'on a less or lower condition', in: 'Don't X, unless Y'?
OED (3rd edn, 2017):
[†A.] 1. Forming a conjunctional phrase introducing a case in which an exception to a preceding negative statement (expressed or implied) will or may exist: (not) on a less or ...
asked Jul 7 '15 at 20:30
Greek - Area 51 Proposal
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1
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2answers
1k views
Usage of the Future Tense with a Conditional containing “unless”
Unless the plane encounters unexpected turbulence, it ------- in Iceland shortly before 5 P.M.
In this conditional sentence using "unless", should the blank be filled with:
1) is arriving,
2) will ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Transform the conditional sentence beginning with word 'Unless'
I have a sentence and need to transform it to begin with word unless.
The sentence is Study hard now or you will regret it later. I am not able to begin this using Unless.
My attempts are
...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
Unless in third conditional sentences
"Jane wouldn't have found a job unless she had gone to London" is a natural-sounding sentence and has two different meanings, depending on whether Jane really did move to London or not:
(1) "Jane ...
