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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Using the word "unless" in questions?
Using the word "unless" in questions?
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sonicliz
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Using the word "unless" in questions?
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Quick question:
Can you use the word "unless" in a question? It doesn �t sound right to me. Like:
Can I return this book unless I use it? (It sounds better "Can I return this book if I don �t use it?")
or
Can you dry the dishes unless you are busy? (It sounds better "Can you dry the dishes if you are not busy?")
In the book I am using with my students, it says that "if...not" and "unless" mean the same thing and are used interchangeably, but to me that doesn �t appear to be the case.
I would appreciate your thoughts! |
29 Apr 2010
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Zora
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Hi there,
The sentences do sound wrong like that. However, if you put the "unless" at the beginning they sound ten times better.
Unless you are busy, can you help me here?
Unless I use the book, can I return it later?
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29 Apr 2010
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sonicliz
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They DO sound better, but they still don �t sound that great. Thanks though! |
29 Apr 2010
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millmo
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If I do not use this book can I return it?
Unless I use the book, can I return it later?
Can you dry the dishes if you are not busy
Unless you are busy, can you dry the dishes
These are both correct and interchangeable
- Unless she hurries up, we won �t arrive in time.
- We won �t go unless he arrives soon.
�Unless � expresses the idea of �if not � Example: Unless she hurries up, we won �t arrive in time. MEANS THE SAME AS: If she doesn �t hurry up, we won �t arrive in time. �Unless � is only used in the first conditional. |
29 Apr 2010
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