Use If-not or unless– Know more

‘Unless’ is a conditional word that means ‘if not’. It’s used to introduce a condition that must be met for something to happen or be true.

‘Unless’ is a subordinating conjunction that connects two clauses. Here one clause is dependent and needs the main clause to get complete sense.

(A)  When If-sentence is negative use unless

e.g.   (Use- Unless)

1)  If he does not run fast, he will miss the train.

Ans- Unless he runs fast, he will miss the train.

2)  If she did not catch the ball, she would be punished.

Ans- Unless she caught the ball, she would be punished.

3)  If you are lucky, you will not fail.

Ans- Unless you are lucky, you will fail.

4)  If we are not fair to any one, the world cannot be fair to us.

Ans- Unless we are fair to any one, the world cannot be fair to us.

5)  If you are brave, you will not fear.

Ans- Unless you are brave, you will fear.

6)  You are likely to be punished, if you don’t express regret.

Ans- Unless you express regret, you are likely to be punished.

7) If they do not work hard, they will not win.

Ans- Unless they work hard, they will not win.

Rules for using Unless :

1) Write ‘Unless’ in place of ‘If’.

2) Remove ‘not’ from If-sentence.

3) If there are two ‘not’, remove only one.

4) When ‘do not’ is removed, there is no change in the next verb.  

5) When ‘does not’ is removed, add ‘–s or –es’ to the next verb.

6) When ‘did not’ is removed, make past form of the next verb.

(B) When If- sentence is affirmative, use unless: 

e.g. (Use-Unless)

1) If you are lucky, you will win.

Ans- Unless you are lucky, you will not win.

2) If you work hard, you will get money.

Ans- Unless you work hard, you will not get money.

3) I shall read this news, if you allow me.

Ans- I shall not read this news, unless you allow me.

4) Tree nesting birds live only if there are trees.

Ans- Tree nesting birds do not live unless there are trees.

5) If it increases the sale of goods, industry prospers.

Ans- Unless it increases the sale of goods, industry does not prosper.

6) If Raju caught the bus, he would reach in time.

Ans- Unless Raju caught the bus, he would not reach in time.

7) If Seeta sings a song, she will win the prize.

Ans- Unless Seeta sings a song, she will not win the prize.

Rules for using If——-not

1) Write ‘If’ in place of ‘Unless’.

2) Write ‘If-clause’ as it is.

3) Write ‘not’ after the auxiliary verb of second clause.

4) When there is no auxiliary verb use ‘do, does, did’.

 (C) Use- If- – – not

e.g. (Use – If —– not)  

1)  Unless you work hard, you will fail.

Ans- If you do not work hard, you will fail.

2)  Unless he works hard, he will not pass.

Ans- If he does not work hard, he will not pass.

3)  Unless he worked hard, he would not earn money.

Ans- If he did not work hard, he would not earn money.

4)  Unless you start singing, you will not get prize.

Ans- If you do not start singing, you will not get prize.

5) Unless she accepts the proposal, I will not come.

Ans- If she does not accept the proposal I will not come.

6) Unless they bring the news, she will not make meal.

Ans- If they don’t bring the news, she will not make meal.

7) Unless you are brave, you will not do that job.

Ans- If you are not brave, you will not do that job.

(D)  For clause having without- –

Use – If – – – no / Unless

e.g.

1) Without freedom, we have no civilization.

Ans- If there is no freedom, we have no civilization.

Ans- Unless there is freedom, we have no civilization.

2) Without water, all living things die.

Ans- If there is no water, all living things die.

Ans- Unless there is water, all living things die.

3) Without Nile, Egypt would be a desert.

Ans- If there is were Nile, Egypt would be a desert.

Ans- Unless there were Nile, Egypt would be a desert.

4) The human body cannot function properly without specific nutrients.

Ans- The human body cannot function properly if there are no specific nutrients.

Ans- The human body cannot function properly, unless there are specific nutrients.

5) Without money, I will not become successful.

Ans- If there is no money, I will not become successful.

Ans- Unless there is money, I will not become successful.

6) Without books, Rahul cannot study.

Ans- If there are no books, Rahul cannot study.

Ans- Unless there are books, Rahul cannot study.

7) Without music, I cannot start dance.

Ans- If there is no music, I cannot start dance.

Ans- Unless there is music, I cannot start dance.

Rules –

1) Write ‘If’ or ‘Unless’ in place of ‘without’.

2) Take subject and verb like- ‘there is, there are, there was, there were’.

3) Write ‘no’ after verb in ‘If-clause’. For ‘Unless – clause’ do not use ‘no or not’ after verb.

4) Write second clause as it is.

Note That :-

 ‘No’ is adjective while ‘Not’ is adverb. So before ‘noun’ use ‘no’ and before verb, article, adjective’ use ‘not’.

Use If-not or unless: See more examples in the following book

English Grammar Activity Workbook

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Do solve the following online tests

1) Test on spot the error

2) Online test on Framing wh- question

3) Online test on Conjunctions

4) Online test on If and Unless

5) Online test on Adjectives

6) Grammar Quizes

7) Online Test on Tenses

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See more-

How to Frame wh- questions

Online Test on Articles

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Online Test Based on Use of Unless-

Do solve the online test-

Read each sentence.

Choose the correct use of Unless.

Solve all sentences.

Click on Submit button.

Click on View Score.