{"id":2628,"date":"2015-12-30T09:00:20","date_gmt":"2015-12-30T17:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/?p=2628"},"modified":"2020-12-10T13:44:32","modified_gmt":"2020-12-10T21:44:32","slug":"the-meanings-of-unless-and-if","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/the-meanings-of-unless-and-if\/","title":{"rendered":"The Meanings of Unless and If"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a lot of ways, it\u2019s hard to truly know<\/em> your own native language. Oh sure, you can follow the rules. But you follow them without thinking. Often, you don\u2019t understand the rules consciously, and aren\u2019t able to explain them to someone else who asks.<\/p>\n

As an ESL teacher, sometimes knowing my own<\/em> language can be as puzzling as my second language studies (I am currently studying Korean and Hmong). My students will often observe something unusual about my own language that I\u2019ve never had to consciously think about. Recently, I was asked a very good\u2014but very puzzling\u2014question. A student wanted to know the difference between unless<\/strong> and if<\/strong>, and the rules for using those two words.<\/p>\n

After spending a minute or two struggling to find an explanation, I told her I\u2019d have to get back to her the next day. And then, with careful thought, I was able to consciously figure out the rules for these two words. I shared those rules with my students, and now I\u2019m going to share them with you, my fellow Magooshers.<\/p>\n

As you probably already know, \u201cif\u201d is conditional<\/a>. It is used to describe a possible situation, and what would happen under the conditions of that situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnless\u201d is also conditional, but it is effectively \u201cif\u201d with an extra exclusion or negative qualifier added. Unless basically means \u201cexcept if\u201d <\/strong>or \u201cif\u2026 not\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So you can make equivalent sentences with \u201cif\u201d and \u201cunless.\u201d Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Example 1:<\/strong><\/p>\n