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Holyduke Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Only if vs. unless
Hi,
I want to know the difference between the usage of "only if" and "unless"
I have this in mind:
I can do 'B' only if I do 'A'. I can go out and play only if I finish my HW first.
I can do 'B' only if I don't do 'A'. I can go out and play only if I don't fail my tests.
I cannot do 'B' unless I don't do 'A'. (I don't think this works, can't think of an example)
I cannot do 'B' unless I do 'A'. I cannot go out and play unless I finish my HW first.
I can do 'B' unless 'A' happens. I can go out and play during break time unless it is raining outside.(?)
I can do 'B' unless I don't do 'A'. (I don't think this works either)
Are these correct?
I want to know the difference between the usage of "only if" and "unless"
I have this in mind:
I can do 'B' only if I do 'A'. I can go out and play only if I finish my HW first.
I can do 'B' only if I don't do 'A'. I can go out and play only if I don't fail my tests.
I cannot do 'B' unless I do 'A'. I cannot go out and play unless I finish my HW first.
I can do 'B' unless 'A' happens. I can go out and play during break time unless it is raining outside.(?)
I can do 'B' unless I don't do 'A'. (I don't think this works either)
Are these correct?
Top answer
Hello You appear to have understood the difference between the two. Unless is closer to ‘except if’ than ‘only if’. So you are right in that.....
- Hello You appear to have understood the difference between the two.
- Unless is closer to ‘except if’ than ‘only if’.
- So you are right in that.....
- I can go out and play only if I finish my homework.
- = I cannot go out and play unless I finish my homework.
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3 Answers
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Hello
You appear to have understood the difference between the two. Unless is closer to ‘except if’ than ‘only if’.
So you are right in that.....
I can go out and play only if I finish my homework. = I cannot go out and play unless I finish my homework.
I cannot do 'B' unless I don't do 'A'. (I don't think this works,
You appear to have understood the difference between the two. Unless is closer to ‘except if’ than ‘only if’.
So you are right in that.....
I can go out and play only if I finish my homework. = I cannot go out and play unless I finish my homework.
I cannot do 'B' unless I don't do 'A'. (I don't think this works,
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I can go out and play only if I finish my homework. = I cannot go out and play unless I finish my homework.
ok, thx.
For unless, doesn't it already carries the tone in the negative sense? should we use don't after unless?
I cannot go to the cinema unless I don’t go to the restaurant. I can’t do both.
I can drive to work unl
ok, thx.
For unless, doesn't it already carries the tone in the negative sense? should we use don't after unless?
I cannot go to the cinema unless I don’t go to the restaurant. I can’t do both.
I can drive to work unl
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Hello Holyduke
I see no reason not to put other negatives with ‘unless’. You can rephrase the sentences by all means but they are valid. For your initial phrase you could rephrase it ‘I have to finish my homework before I can go out’, but I thought you were looking for examples with ‘unless’.
Don’t ask me if you can go out to play unless you have finished your homework.
I see no reason not to put other negatives with ‘unless’. You can rephrase the sentences by all means but they are valid. For your initial phrase you could rephrase it ‘I have to finish my homework before I can go out’, but I thought you were looking for examples with ‘unless’.
Don’t ask me if you can go out to play unless you have finished your homework.
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