Conditionals

Conditionals: other expressions (unless, should, as long as)
Unless
Conditional clauses can begin with unless. Unless means something similar to ‘if … not’ or ‘except if’.
The verb forms in the examples are similar to sentences with if: we use the present simple in the unless-
clause and shall, should, will, would, can, could, may or might in the main clause:
Unless I phone you, you can assume 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 show unless we sell more 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.)
Warning:
We don’t use unless for impossible conditions:
If the government had not raised food prices, there would not have been so many protests.
Not: Unless the government had raised food prices …
Warning:
We don’t use unless and if together:
We’ll go to the coast tomorrow unless it rains.
Not: We’ll go to the coast tomorrow unless if it rains.
Unless/If so, if not
Should you (Should with inversion)
In formal situations, we can use should + subject (s) + verb (v) instead of if:
Should you wish to cancel your order, please contact our customer service department on 02317
6658932. (or If you should wish to cancel your order …)
Should your child become anxious or nervous about any activity, it is a good idea to inform the team-
leader. (or If your child should become …)
Had you (Had with inversion)
In formal situations, we can use had + subject + verb instead of if in third conditional sentences:
Had I known you were waiting outside, I would have invited you to come in. (If I had known you were
waiting outside …)
Had Margaret realised she would be travelling alone, she would never have agreed to go.
If + were to
In formal situations, we can use if + were to when we talk about things that might happen but which we
think are unlikely:
If the Prime Minister were to resign, there would have to be a general election within 30 days.
In even more formal styles, we use were + subject-verb inversion + to-infinitive:
Were we to give up the fight now, it would mean the end of democracy in our country. (If we gave up
the fight now …)
Were the economy to slow down too quickly, there would be major problems. (If the economy slowed
down too quickly …)
As long as, so long as, providing, etc.
Sometimes we need to impose specific conditions or set limits on a situation. In these cases, conditional
clauses can begin with phrases such as as long as, so long as, only if, on condition that, providing (that),
provided (that).
As long as is more common in speaking; so long as and on condition that are more formal and more
common in writing:
[to a group of children]
You can play in the living room as long as you don’t make a mess.
So long as a tiger stands still, it is invisible in the jungle.
The bank lent the company 100,000 pounds on condition that they 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 reduction providing you’ve got a railcard.
They may do whatever they like provided that it is within the law.
As long as and so long as/Or and otherwise
We often use or and otherwise with conditional meanings:
You’ve got to start studying, or you’ll fail all those exams. (If you don’t start studying, you will fail the
exams.)
[talking about sending a package by mail]
We’d better send it express, otherwise it’ll take days. (If we do not send it express, it will take days.)
Supposing
Supposing may be used with a conditional meaning. It can be used in first, second or third conditional
sentences. The speaker invites the listener to imagine a situation:
Supposing I don’t arrive till after midnight, will the guest-house still be open? (Imagine if I don’t arrive till
after midnight …)
Supposing you lost your passport, you’d have to go to the embassy, wouldn’t you?
Supposing he hadn’t recognised us – he might never have spoken to us.
In case (of)/Wish/If only/Suppose, supposing and what if

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Conditionals: other expressions (unless, should, as long as)

We don’t use unless for impossible conditions:

Not: Unless the government had raised food prices …

We don’t use unless and if together:

We’ll go to the coast tomorrow unless it rains.

Not: We’ll go to the coast tomorrow unless if it rains.

Unless/If so, if not

Should you (Should with inversion)

Had you (Had with inversion)

In even more formal styles, we use were + subject-verb inversion + to-infinitive:

As long as, so long as, providing, etc.

[to a group of children]

So long as a tiger stands still, it is invisible in the jungle.

[talking about rail travel in the UK]

As long as and so long as/Or and otherwise

We often use or and otherwise with conditional meanings:

Supposing he hadn’t recognised us – he might never have spoken to us.

In case (of)/Wish/If only/Suppose, supposing and what if

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