If / Unless
A specific condition for an outcome
If / Unless
| IF | |
|---|---|
An if clause states a condition to achieve a specific outcome. The (dependent) if clause may be placed before or after the main (independent) clause. |
|
| OUTCOME | IF |
You will have a tender turkey |
if you cook it slowly. |
You will have a tough turkey |
if you overcook it. |
We'll arrive at 8:00 |
if our train is on time. |
We'll bring some champagne |
if you wish. |
| UNLESS | |
|---|---|
An unless clause states a condition that is an exception to achieving the outcome in the main clause "except if" "if not". |
|
| OUTCOME | UNLESS |
You will have a tender turkey |
unless you overcook it. |
You will have a tough turkey |
unless you cook it slowly. |
We'll arrive at 8:00 |
unless our train is late. |
We'll bring some champagne. |
unless you object. |
If / Unless Clause Position
Punctuation
Emphasis Clause Order
| EMPHASIS PLACEMENT |
|---|
|
| COMMA |
If you wish, we'll bring some champagne. |
Unless you object, we'll bring some champagne. |
The | STANDARD PLACEMENT |
|---|
|
| NO COMMA |
We'll bring some champagne If you wish. |
We'll bring some champagne unless you object. |
When the
If / Unless
Tense Agreement
Tense Use
| PRESENT / PAST |
|---|
When discussing habits or routines, the present or the past tense can be used in conditioned statements. See Pres-Past Conditions. |
| IF |
We often arrive at 8:00 if our train is on time. |
We often arrived at 8:00if our train was on time.(routinely) |
| UNLESS |
We often arrive at 8:00 unless our train is late. |
We often arrived at 8:00unless our train was late. (routinely) |
| FUTURE |
|---|
However, when discussing future plans, the present tense is used to refer to the future in the unless-clause or if-clause. |
| IF |
We will arrive at 8:00 if our train is on time.
|
*We will arrive at 8:00 if our train will be on time. (use present) |
| UNLESS |
We'll arrive at 8:00 unless our train is late. |
*We'll arrive at 8:00 unless our train will be late. (use present) |
*Yellow highlighting marks an example with incorrect usage.
Connectors for Condition
Other Expressions
Connectors for Condition vs. Outcome
| IF / UNLESS |
|---|
An if clause poses a condition in order to achieve an outcome: if, only if, unless , provided that. |
| ONE WAY (OTHERS MAY EXIST) |
If you use a thermometer, you will know when your turkey is done. |
| ONLY ONE WAY |
Only if you use a thermometer, will you know when your turkey is done. (auxiliary verb goes before subject) |
| NOT DOING IT THIS WAY (– / +) |
Unless you use a thermometer (+) you won't know when your turkey is done. (–) |
| OTHER EXPRESSIONS |
|---|
In contrast, the outcome of an otherwise or an or else clause statesthe likely outcome if you do not do the action in the clause or sentence before it. |
| ONE WAY |
Use a thermometer. Otherwise, you won't know when your turkey is done. (Introduces an independent clause) |
| ONE WAY |
Use a thermometer, or else you won't know when your turkey is done. |
| SPECIFICALLY THIS WAY |
Provided that you use a thermometer, you will have a delicious turkey. (+) |
Only If
Word Order – Transposition
Beginning with Only if
| CONDITION |
|---|
Both an if and an only if clause may be placed at the beginning of a sentence. A comma separates the condition clause from the outcome clause. |
| IF |
If you dry your dishes with a towel, |
If you use Zing dish soap, |
If you used Zing dish soap, |
| ONLY IF |
Only if you dry your dishes with a towel, |
Only if you use Zing dish soap, |
Only if you used Zing dish soap, |
| OUTCOME |
|---|
Note that he outcome of the only-if clause has the auxiliary verb placed before the subject. |
| STANDARD WORD ORDER |
they will be spotless! |
you get really clean dishes. |
you would get really clean dishes. (conditional) |
| TRANSPOSED |
will they [will] be spotless! |
do you [do] get really clean dishes. (get = do get) |
would you [will] get really clean dishes. |
Commonly Confused
Only if / If only
A Condition vs. A Wish
| ONLY IF |
|---|
An only if clause states one condition required to achieve a desired effect. When used at the beginning of the sentence the auxiliary verb is moved before the subject. |
| ONE CONDITION |
Only if you dry your dishes with a towel, will they be spotless! |
Only if you clean up your room, will you find your lost jeans. |
Your windows will be clean enough to see your face only if you wash them with Zing! |
I will please my mother-in-law only if my house is clean. |
I am happy only if you are here. / Only if you are here, am I happy. |
She was pleasant only if we told her what she wanted to hear. |
| IF ONLY |
|---|
An if only clause expresses a wish – one that you are doubtful about actually happening. The result clause is optional and is separate. It is more emphatic than I wish… |
| I WISH… |
If only I had more time! I could relax. |
If only you would clean up your room. You would find your lost jeans. |
If only I had some Zing window cleaner. |
If only I could please my mother-in-law. |
If only you were here! |
If only he hadn't told his mother everything. |
Also see Wishes (only if / if only)
If Only (CaGEL 751)
Commonly Confused
Even if / Whether or not
Even if & Whether or not
| EVEN IF | |
|---|---|
An even if clause states a challenging or negative condition. "No condition will change the outcome" Even if emphasizes the speakers intent to achieve the outcome or goal without regard for a difficult or negative condition. |
|
| OUTCOME | CHALLENGING CONDITION |
I'll help you |
even if I don't have much time. |
I like to walk to work |
even if it is raining. |
Your father loves you |
even if your father doesn't say it. |
He'll get his work done |
even if he has to work all night.
|
| WHETHER OR NOT | |
|---|---|
A whether or not clause states that no condition (or its alternative) will stop the completion of the outcome in the main clause. That is, if the condition exists or if the condition does not exist, the outcome will or must happen anyway. |
|
| OUTCOME | THE CONDITION DOESN'T MATTER |
I'll help you |
whether or not I have much time. |
I like to walk to work |
whether it is raining or not . |
Your father loves you |
whether or not he says it. |
He'll get his work done |
whether or not we wants to work all night. |
Whether can be split apart from or not by the subject and verb phrase of the clause.
See If / Whether.
alternative (n.) – something you can choose to do or use instead of something else
Also see even if Adverbs of Emphasis
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