unless - English word #992

Translation

Except if; used to say that one thing will happen if another thing does not.

Word origin

From on plus less, an older phrase meaning in a case less than or except.

.

"Unless" means we will be late if we do not leave now.

.

Here "unless" means "except if you come".

rains, .

Here "unless" joins the two ideas: no rain, so the game starts.

if

Used to say that one thing depends on another thing being true.

but

Joins two ideas to show a difference or a surprise between them.

not

Used to make a word or sentence mean the opposite, or to say something is untrue.

or

Used to show a choice between two or more things or actions.

so

Used to show the result of something, meaning for that reason.

(1)

Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.