Page 211 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

a n d u n l e s s ; a n d w h e t h e r , e t c .
I f . . . n o t ang unless; i f if and whether, etc.
If...nOt

if ...not and unless
A if ...not and unless
Unless is used in conditional sentences with the meaning ‘if...not’:
Unless is used in conditional sentences with the meaning 'if...not':
(or ...if you don't apply.)
There's no chance of you getting the job unless you apply.
g • * There's no chance of you getting the job unless you apply, (or ...if you don't apply.)
(or ...if you don't have...)
You can't travel on this train unless you have a reservation.
• ¢ You can't travel on this train unless you have a reservation, (or ...if you don't have...)
With unless we use present tenses when we talk about the future:
With unless we use present tenses when we talk about the future:
(not Unless it will rain...)
I'll pick you
up at 6.00.
• * Unless it rains, I'll pick you up at 6.00. (not Unless it will rain...)
Unless it rains,
sentences
unless
use either
99), we can
or if...not with
(see Unit
conditional
In most real
B In most real conditional sentences (see Unit 99), we can use either unless or if...not with a a
However, we
but not unless:
if...not
use
similar meaning. However, we use if...not but not unless:
similar meaning.
unreal conditional sentences:
in most
• * in most unreal conditional sentences:
so seriously, (not ...unless he took...)
• * He would be happier if he didn't take things so seriously. (not ...unless he took...)
He would be happier if he didn't take things
she would have gone into the police force, (not Unless she
Ifshe hadn't gone to university,
• * If she hadn't gone to university, she would have gone into the police force. (not Unless she
gone...)
had
had gone...)
when we talk about emotions:
• * when we talk about emotions:
be amazed if Christie doesn't win. (not ...unless Christie wins.)
• ¢ I'll be amazed if Christie doesn't win. (not ...unless Christie wins.)
T'll
in most questions:
• * in most questions:
(not Unless you pass...)
• ¢ If you don't pass the test, what will you do? (not Unless you pass...)
Ifyou don't pass the test, what will you do?
use unless but not if...not when we introduce an afterthought.
We use unless but not if...not when we introduce an afterthought.
We
run it, the course can't continue - unless you want the job, of course, (not
Without Philip
• ¢ Without Philip to to run it, the course can't continue - unless you want the job, of course. (not
- if you don't want...)
... .. - if you don't want...)
English, the afterthought is often separated from the rest of the sentence by a dash.
In written English, the afterthought is often separated from the rest of the sentence by a dash.
In written
if and whether
if and whether
We can use if or whether to say that two possibilities have been talked about, or to say that
We can use if or whether to say that two possibilities have been talked about, or to say that
about
something:
are not
sure
people are not sure about something:
people
decide whether/if it was worth re-sitting the exam.
• ¢ They couldn't decide whether/if it was worth re-sitting the exam.
They couldn't
I doubt whether/if anyone else agrees with me.
• ¢ I doubt whether/if anyone else agrees with me.
usually
be
followed
directly
Compare:
by or not.
Whether can
Whether can usually be followed directly by or not. Compare:
(not
and
...if or not Tom was coming.)
I didn't know if Tom was coming or not.
• ¢ I didn't know if Tom was coming or not. (not ...if or not Tom was coming.) and
(or ...whether Tom was coming or not.)
• ¢ I didn't know whether or not Tom was coming, (or ...whether Tom was coming or not.)
I didn't know whether or not Tom was coming.
We prefer whether rather than if:
We prefer whether rather than if:
after the verbs advise, consider, discuss:
• ¢ after the verbs advise, consider, discuss:
consider carefully whether the car you are interested in is good value.
You should
• ¢ You should consider carefully whether the car you are interested in is good value.
• ¢ before to-infinitives and after prepositions:
before to-infinitives and after prepositions:
buy apples or bananas.
• ¢« I couldn't decide whether to to buy apples or bananas.
Tcouldn't decide whether
We argued about whether women are more liberated in Britain or the USA.
• ¢ in a clause acting as a subject or complement:
We argued about whether women are more liberated in Britain or the USA.
• ¢ in the pattern noun + as to + whether to mean 'about' or 'concerning': question, say?
• * ina clause acting as a subject or complement:
Whether the minister will quit over the issue remains to be seen.
• ¢
Whether the minister will quit over the issue remains to be seen.
The first issue is whether he knew he was committing a crime.
• ¢
The first issue is whether he knew he was committing a crime.
in the pattern noun + as to + whether to mean 'about' or 'concerning':
eligible to play for France.
There was some disagreement as to whether he was
There was some disagreement as to whether he was eligible to play for France.
• «
debate,
uncertainty.
discussion,
used in this pattern are
doubt,
Other nouns commonly
Other nouns commonly used in this pattern are debate, discussion, doubt, question, uncertainty.
used
other words and phrases
sentences
conditional
to
clauses:
include
introduce
These sentences include other words and phrases used to introduce conditional clauses:
These
(that) no-one objects.
We'll have the meeting this afternoon, provided/providing (that) no-one objects.
We'll have the meeting this afternoon, provided/providing
• °
6) @
(that) they ask me why I resigned from
my last job - what should I
Supposing
Supposing (that) they ask me why I resigned from my last job - what should I say?
• ¢
every week - as/so long as you promise to reply.
I'll write to you every week - as/so long as you promise to reply.
J'll write to you
• «
Conditionals (1) and (2) =
Whether => FMT
Whether =» IfflTTl Conditionals (1) and (2) => EEREER