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How do you use unless in a sentence?
Our director would not have signed the contract if she hadn’t had a lawyer present. I wouldn’t have phoned him unless you’d suggested it. They would have shot her if she hadn’t given them the money.
How do you use unless?
Use unless with present tenses when talking about the future.
- Present. You will damage your health unless you stop smoking. = you will damage your health if you do not stop smoking.
- Past. Unless she was working late, she would be here.
- Past Perfect. I wouldn’t have taken Paul unless his car hadn’t broken down.
Can a sentence start with unless?
Expert Answers Starting a sentence with “unless” is much the same as starting a sentence with “because.” Although our 4th grade teachers told us NEVER TO DO IT (because in 4th grade it often resulted in a fragment) we can write a complete sentence starting with “unless” or “because.”
How do you know when to put a comma?
To better understand the use of the comma, begin by learning the following eight basic uses:
- USE A COMMA TO SEPARATE INDEPENDENT CLAUSES.
- USE A COMMA AFTER AN INTRODUCTORY CLAUSE OR PHRASE.
- USE A COMMA BETWEEN ALL ITEMS IN A SERIES.
- USE COMMAS TO SET OFF NONRESTRICTIVE CLAUSES.
- USE A COMMA TO SET OFF APPOSITIVES.
What is unless in grammar?
We use the conjunction unless to mean ‘except if’. The clause which follows unless is a subordinate clause (sc): it needs a main clause (mc) to make a complete sentence. Unless is a conditional word (like if), so we don’t use will or would in the subordinate clause: Unless I hear from you, I’ll see you at two o’clock.
How do you explain unless?
The easiest way to explain “unless” is to say it is the equivalent of a negative if-clause. If I do NOT win the lottery, I will not be able to buy a car. Unless I win the lottery, I will not be able to buy a car. This explanation is a good introduction to unless-clauses, but it is not the whole story.
What is difference between if and unless?
As you probably already know, “if” is conditional. It is used to describe a possible situation, and what would happen under the conditions of that situation. “Unless” is also conditional, but it is effectively “if” with an extra exclusion or negative qualifier added. Unless basically means “except if” or “if… not”.
What is difference between until and unless?
“Until” is a conjunction that is used to refer to the time that took place before an incident while the word “unless” is a conjunction that is used in the same manner as the words “if” and “except.” 2. “Until” means “up to the time” while “unless” means “under the circumstances.”
When to use a comma with unless in a sentence?
The clause which follows unless is a subordinate clause (sc): it needs a main clause (mc) to make a complete sentence. When unless comes before the main clause, we use a comma: Unless [SC] it rains, [MC] we’ll go for a picnic by the river tomorrow. (We’ll go for a picnic by the river tomorrow if it doesn’t rain.)
When do you put a comma before the word until?
In fact, the only time you will need a comma before “until” is if you have a series of prepositional phrases, each of which starts with the word. Sentences are split into pieces called clauses. Put simply, a clause is any part of a sentence that contains a verb or action word.
When to use a comma before a subordinate clause?
It turns out there is a pretty simple rule: If a subordinate clause comes before the clause it is attached to then it should be followed by a comma. You do not need a comma before a subordinate clause if it follows the main clause (except “whereas” and “although”). Correct: If you’re ready, we can begin.
When to use commas or nonessential clauses in a sentence?
Nonessential appositives are set off from the rest of the sentence with commas. A phrase, clause, or word is nonessential if the sentence makes sense and is complete without it. Nonessential phrases can be moved around in the sentence or cut from the sentence and the sentence will still make sense.