BBC World Service | Learning English

Hengchun from China: 'I can learn from my landlady and her children'

Unless
We can use unless in place of except if and only if to talk about the conditions under which something can happen.

Today, William asks Hengchun to take tea with him at the Ritz - but what are the conditions under which that can happen?

Listen to the programme!

Unless

Unless with a subject and verb means only if or except if in positive and negative sentences. The other part of the sentence gives the possible result.

possible result	unless	subject and verb
I'm not going to dance	unless	you ask me.
I won't go by car	unless	it's a long way.
We can go to the park	unless	someone has a better idea.

unless	subject and verb	possible result
Unless	we're there by 8 o'clock	we won't get anything to eat.
Unless	Elena wants to take a taxi	we can go by bus.
Unless	you tell me who broke the cup	I will make you pay for it.

Download Catherine's grammar explanation and table (pdf - 61 K)

Download this programme (mp3 - 1.8 MB)
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