Unless / As Long As / Provided
Using unless, as long as, so long as, provided, and providing to express conditions
Unless
Unless means except if. Use it when something will happen (or is true) in all situations except one.
- I’ll see you tomorrow unless I have to work late. (= except if I have to work late)
- There are no buses to the beach. Unless you have a car, it’s difficult to get there. (= except if you have a car)
- Ben wouldn’t complain about something unless it was really bad. (= except if it was really bad)
You can usually replace unless with if … not:
| Unless | If … not |
|---|---|
| Unless we leave now, we’ll be late. | If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late. |
| You won’t pass unless you study harder. | You won’t pass if you don’t study harder. |
As Long As / So Long As
As long as and so long as both mean if, on condition that. They emphasise that a condition must be met.
- You can borrow my car as long as you promise not to drive too fast. (= you must promise not to drive too fast — that is the condition)
- I don’t mind if you come home late as long as you come in quietly.
So long as has the same meaning and is interchangeable:
- We can sit here so long as you don’t mind the noise.
Provided / Providing
Provided (that) and providing (that) also mean if, on condition that. They are slightly more formal than as long as.
- Travelling by car is convenient provided you have somewhere to park. (= it’s convenient, but only if you have somewhere to park)
- *Providing the room is clean, I don’t mind which hotel we stay at.* (= the room must be clean; otherwise I don’t mind)
The word that is optional after both provided and providing.
Future Situations: No “will” After These Words
When talking about the future, do not use will after unless / as long as / so long as / provided / providing. Use a present tense instead.
| Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|
| I’m not going out unless it stops raining. | |
| *Providing the weather is good, we’ll have a picnic.* | |
| I’ll lend you the money as long as you pay me back. |
This is the same rule that applies to if and when in future sentences.
Quick Self-Check
You aren't allowed in the club _____ you're a member.
Select your answer:
You can borrow my laptop _____ you promise to take care of it.
Select your answer:
We'll be late unless we _____ now.
Select your answer:
I don't watch TV _____ I have nothing else to do.
Select your answer:
Providing the weather _____ good, we're going to have a picnic tomorrow.
Select your answer: