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HOW TO USE UNLESS

Unless means the same as if.not.

Like if, unless is followed by: Present Tense, Past Tense, or, Past Perfect
Tense.
(never by a conditional)
Unless is used instead of if . not in conditional sentences of all types.
The order of the clauses doesnt matter with sentences using unless.
TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL - UNLESS + PRESENT TENSE
With If

You will be sick if you dont stop eating.

I wont pay if you dont provide the goods immediately.
If you dont study diligently, youll never understand trigonometry.
Equivalent with Unless

Youll be sick unless you stop eating.

I wont pay unless you provide the goods immediately.
Unless you study diligently, youll never understand trigonometry.

TYPE 2 CONDITIONAL - UNLESS + PAST TENSE

With If

If he wasnt very ill, he would be at work.

I wouldnt eat that food if I wasnt really hungry.
She would be here by now if she wasnt stuck in traffic.
Equivalent with Unless

Unless he was very ill, he would be at work.

I wouldnt eat that unless I was really hungry.
She would be here by now unless she was stuck in traffic.

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TYPE 3 CONDITIONAL - UNLESS + PAST PERFECT
With If

Our Director wouldnt have signed the contract if she hadnt ha d a lawyer
present.
I wouldnt phoned him if you hadnt suggested it.
They would have shot her if she hadnt given them the money.
Equivalent with Unless

Our director would not have signed the contract unless she had ha d a
lawyer present.
I wouldnt phoned him unless youd suggested it.
They would have shot her unless shed given them the money.