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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Help Needed! UNLESS
Help Needed! UNLESS
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ultimatule
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Help Needed! UNLESS
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Can you please help me solve this grammar problem? Which of these sentences is correct: 1) I will do it unless you allow me. 2) I will do it unless you don �t allow me. The intended meaning is that the speaker intends to do something under the condition that the other person will not prohibit it. The beginning "I will do it unless..." must remain unchanged. Which one, 1) or 2), is correct? I �m counting on your expertise! |
20 Jun 2009
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serene
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The second sentence is correct, meaning "If you don �t allow me, I won �t do it."
edit: or " I will do it only if you allow me" |
20 Jun 2009
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mjpa
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The second one is the correct. Unless always needs a negative sentence.
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20 Jun 2009
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manonski (f)
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I agree, the second one.
Edit: Since nobody answered on your other post, you still have the possibility to delete it. |
20 Jun 2009
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maker1
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Unless as I understand means if ..........not like
Unless you ask politely I won �t help you in other words
if you dont ask politely I wont help you |
20 Jun 2009
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miyoko71
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I think you should say"I won �t do it unless you allow me" |
20 Jun 2009
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gaby_mn
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The correct form would be:
Unless you allow me, I won�t do it. or, I won�t do it, unless you allow me.
The reason being that, as the rest of the teachers said, unless means IF NOT. However, the clause where you use unless, can�t be negative (Unless you don�t), so you just play around with the sentences a little bit and you can see that it keeps the same meaning even if you put the clause in positive, and the other one, negative.
Hope this helps.
Gaby |
21 Jun 2009
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ultimatule
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Thank you for all your precious answers! miyoko and gaby suggested moving the nagation to the first part of the sentence, like that: 1) I will do it unless you don �t allow me. ==> 2) I won �t do it unless you allow me. But my question now is - don �t we change the meaning? As I see it, 1) means: I am determined to do it and the only thing that can stop me is you saying "no". 2) means that I will "sit and wait" for you saying "OK, you can do it" and only then will I do it. What do you think?� |
21 Jun 2009
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gaby_mn
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Hi again....
I see your point.... the fact is, it is a rule of grammar that in the "unless clause" you can�t use a negative... there fore, If you don�t want to change the meaning of your sentence, you would have to use "if"
I will do it, if you allow me.
or,
If you don�t allow me, I won�t do it.
or if we want to keep UNLESS, we could also say:
I will do it unless you tell me otherwise...
what do you think??
greetings,
Gaby |
21 Jun 2009
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