Unless
Conditional clauses can begin withunless.Unlessmeans something similar to ‘if … not’ or ‘except if’.
The verb forms in the examples are similar to sentences withif: we use the present simple in theunless-clause andshall, should, will, would, can, could, mayormightin the main clause:
UnlessIphoneyou, youcanassume the train’s on time.(If I do not phone you /except if I phone you, you can assume the train is on time.)
We’ll have to cancel the showunlesswesellmore tickets at the last minute.(We’ll have to cancel the show if we do not sell more tickets/except if we sell more tickets at the last minute.)
We don’t useunlessfor impossible conditions:
Ifthe government hadnotraised food prices, there would not have been so many protests.
Not:Unless the government had raised food prices…
We don’t useunlessandiftogether:
We’ll go to the coast tomorrowunlessit rains.
Not:We’ll go to the coast tomorrow unless if it rains.
See also:
Unless
If so,if not
Should you(Shouldwith inversion)
In formal situations, we can useshould+ subject (s) + verb (v) instead ofif:
Shouldyouwish to cancel your order, please contact our customer service department on 02317 6658932.(orIf you should wish to cancel your order…)
Shouldyour childbecome anxious or nervous about any activity, it is a good idea to inform the team-leader.(orIf your child should become…)
Had you(Hadwith inversion)
In formal situations, we can usehad +subject + verb instead ofifin third conditional sentences:
HadIknown you were waiting outside, I would have invited you to come in.(If I had known you were waiting outside …)
HadMargaretrealised she would be travelling alone, she would never have agreed to go.
If+were to
In formal situations, we can useif + were towhen we talk about things that might happen but which we think are unlikely:
Ifthe Prime Ministerwere toresign, there would have to be a general election within 30 days.
In even more formal styles, we usewere+ subject-verb inversion +to-infinitive:
[V]Were[S]we[to -INF]to give upthe fight now, it would mean the end of democracy in our country.(If we gave up the fight now …)
[V]Were[S]the economy[to -INF]to slow downtoo quickly, there would be major problems.(If the economy slowed down too quickly …)
As long as,so long as,providing, etc.
Sometimeswe need to impose specific conditions or set limits on a situation. In these cases, conditional clauses can begin with phrases such asas long as, so long as, only if, on condition that, providing (that),provided (that).
As long asis more common in speaking;so long asandon condition thatare more formal and more common inwriting:
[to a group of children]
You can play in the living roomas long asyou don’t make a mess.
So long asa tiger stands still, it is invisible in the jungle.
The bank lent the company 100,000 poundson condition thatthey repaid the money within six months.
Providing (that) is more common in speaking;provided (that) is more formal and more common in written language:
[talking about rail travel in the UK]
You can get a senior citizen’s reductionprovidingyou’ve got a railcard.
They may do whatever they likeprovided thatit is within the law.
See also:
As long asandso long as
Orandotherwise
We often useorandotherwisewith conditional meanings:
You’ve got to start studying,oryou’ll fail all those exams.(Ifyou don’t start studying, you will fail the exams.)
[talking about sending a package by mail]
We’d better send it express,otherwiseit’ll take days.(If we do not send it express, it will take days.)
Supposing
Supposingmay be used with a conditional meaning. It can be used in first, secondor third conditional sentences. The speaker invites the listener to imagine a situation:
SupposingI don’t arrive till after midnight, will the guest-house still be open?(Imagine if I don’t arrive till after midnight …)
Supposingyou lost your passport, you’d have to go to the embassy, wouldn’t you?
Supposinghe hadn’t recognised us – he might never have spoken to us.
See also:
In case (of)
Wish
If only
Suppose,supposingandwhat if