unless


un·less

U0092400 (ŭn-lĕs′)conj. Except on the condition that; except under the circumstances that: "Exceptional talent does not always win its reward unless favored by exceptional circumstances" (Mary Elizabeth Braddon).prep. Except for; except.
[Middle English unlesse, alteration (influenced by un-, not) of onlesse : on, on; see on + lesse, less; see less.]

unless

(ʌnˈlɛs) conj (subordinating) except under the circumstances that; except on the condition that: they'll sell it unless he hears otherwise. preprare except[C14: onlesse, from on on + lesse less; compare French à moins que, literally: at less than]

un•less

(ʌnˈlɛs, ən-)

conj. 1. except under the circumstances that: We'll be there at nine, unless the train is late. prep. 2. except; but; save: Nothing will come of it, unless disaster. [1400–50; late Middle English preposition phrase on less,o less(e), earlier upon less on a lesser footing (than)]

unless

You usually use unless to say that something can only happen or be true in particular circumstances. For example, instead of saying 'I will go to France only if the firm pays my expenses', you can say 'I will not go to France unless the firm pays my expenses'. When you are talking about the future, you use the present simple after unless.

We cannot understand disease unless we understand the person who has the disease.

When you are talking about a situation in the past, you use the past simple after unless.

She wouldn't go with him unless I came too.

Be Careful!
Don't use a future form after unless. Don't say, for example, 'I will not go to France unless the firm will pay my expenses'.

You also use unless to mention the only circumstances in which something will not happen or be true. For example, instead of saying 'If we are not told to stop, we will carry on selling the furniture', you can say 'We will carry on selling the furniture unless we are told to stop'.

The mail will go by air unless it is quicker by other means.We might as well stop unless you've got something else you want to talk about.

Be Careful!
Don't use 'unless' to say that something would happen or be true if particular circumstances did not exist. For example, if you have a cold, don't say 'I would go to the party unless I had this cold'. You say 'I would go to the party if I didn't have this cold'.

She'd be pretty if she didn't wear so much make-up.
Translations
除非除...之外

unless

(ənˈles) conjunction1. if not. Don't come unless I telephone. 除非 除非2. except when. The directors have a meeting every Friday, unless there is nothing to discuss. 除...的情況之外 除...之外

unless

→ 除非zhCN