METU/ SFL
DBE
GHO 6
April 2017
PIN-B GROUP
(Instructor’s Copy)
ALTERNATIVES TO IF
‘If’ is not the only word we can use to express condition. In this handout, you will study other words and
expressions that are used to introduce conditionals.
EXERCISE I. Read the text below and fill in the blanks (a-d) with the underlined words/phrases in the
text.
I am one of those people who dislike shopping. Unless I really need some new clothes, I don’t go into shops
at all. If I have to go shopping, I prefer to go to department stores during the sales provided that they aren’t too
crowded. I usually take a small amount of cash so that I don’t spend much, but I also take a credit card in case
I really like something which is expensive. I just make sure that I don’t go into too much debt by spending the
money I really don’t have. As long as I check prices at various stores, I can get a good bargain (something you
buy for less than its usual price). I make sure that I keep the receipt in case I have to return the item.
I know a lot of people who can’t stop buying things even if they are in debt, but
I’m not a compulsive shopper, so I never buy the first thing I see. Most of the
time, I come home without buying anything.
a. Unless means if…not.
b. Provided that and as long as have similar meanings. They introduce a necessary condition and are
used to say that something is dependent on something else.
c. Even if expresses the idea that a particular condition doesn’t matter; the result will not change.
d. In case expresses the idea that something probably won’t happen, but it might. It means ‘if by any
chance this happens’.
UNLESS
= IF… NOT (negative condition)
 My grandfather can’t hear unless you shout.
(My grandfather can’t hear if you don’t shout.)
 You can’t travel on this train unless you have a reservation.
(If you don’t have a reservation, you can’t travel on this train.)
 Unless Peter changes his attitude, he is going to find himself in trouble.
(If Peter doesn’t change his attitude, he is going to find himself in trouble.)
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PROVIDING/PROVIDED (THAT)
SO LONG AS/AS LONG AS
ON (THE) CONDITION (THAT)
= ONLY IF (necessary condition)
* You can borrow my book providing / provided (that) you promise to bring it back tomorrow.
(=You can borrow my book, but you must bring it back. This is the condition. Otherwise, I won’t lend it to you.)
* You can go to the party so long as/ as long as you come back before midnight.
(=You can go to the party, but you must come back before midnight. Otherwise, you can’t go.)
* So long as/ As long as the weather is fine, we’ll have a picnic on Saturday.
(= We’ll have a picnic on Saturday only if the weather is fine. If it is not fine, we won’t have a picnic on Saturday.)
* You won’t be dismissed on (the) condition (that) you pay the fee on time.
(= You will be dismissed if you don’t pay the fee on time.)
We use these conjunctions to emphasize that the condition is necessary to the result. That is, the part of
the sentence starting with these conjunctions expresses the first action which must be fulfilled. They all
mean if and only if. That’s why, they cannot always replace ‘if’.
e.g. The police will not let you go if you cause trouble.
The police will not let you go providing / provided (that) / so / as long as / on (the) condition (that) you cause
trouble.
EXERCISE II. Underline the best alternative.
1. Provided / Unless you return the book by Saturday, I’ll lend it to you with pleasure.
2. You will catch the train providing / unless you leave now.
3. I won’t wash your car provided / unless you pay me.
4. I’ll write to you every week so long as / unless you promise to reply.
5. Provided / Unless you leave at once, I will call the police.
6. I’m playing tennis tomorrow unless / providing it gets cold.
7. You can smoke in here unless / as long as you leave a window open to let the smoke out.
8. George doesn’t trust anyone. He won’t lend you any money unless / as long as you promise in writing to
pay him back.
9. The children can stay here unless / providing they don’t make any noise.
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EXERCISE III. Rewrite the following sentences without changing their meanings. Use the given clues.
1.
I don’t think I’ll be able to solve this problem without your help.
Unless you help (me), I won’t be able to / cannot solve this problem.
2.
Inflation rate won’t decrease if the government doesn’t take appropriate measures. (PROVIDED)
Inflation rate will decrease provided (that) the government takes appropriate measures.
3.
They won’t take the jumper back unless you show them the receipt. (AS LONG AS)
They will take the jumper back as long as you show them the receipt.
4.
You have a chance of being promoted, but you have to keep to the principles of our company.
As long as you keep to the principles of our company, you have a chance of being promoted.
5.
Only foreigners with a green card are allowed to live and work in the USA. (PROVIDED)
Foreigners are allowed to/ can live and work in the USA provided (that) they have a green card.
6.
People are likely to vote for Mr. Johnson, but he must solve the unemployment problem.
Provided that Mr. Johnson solves the unemployment problem, people are likely to vote for him.
7.
Only students who have a special permit can borrow these reference books. (PROVIDED)
Students can / are allowed to borrow these reference books provided (that) they have a special permit.
8.
You have to get permission to use the computer.
Unless you get permission, you cannot use the computer.
9.
I’ll let you use my MP3 player only if you are very careful. Otherwise, I won’t. (PROVIDING)
You can use my MP3 player providing (that) you are very careful.
10. If he doesn’t get a scholarship, he won’t be able to continue his education. (ON CONDITION THAT)
He will be able to continue his education on condition that he gets a scholarship.
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IN CASE ► PRECAUTION (as a way of being safe from something that might happen or might be true.)
* Take the keys in case I’m out.
(=Take the keys as a precaution because I might be out.)
* I’ll come with you in case you cannot find the way.
(=I’ll come with you because you might not find the way.)
* In case one pen runs out, I’ll take two into the exam room.
(=I’ll take two pens because it is possible that one pen will run out.)
* Susan left her telephone switched on in case her son’s teacher called.
(=She left her telephone switched on because it was possible that her son’s teacher would call.)
* The film star wore dark glasses in case there were paparazzi in the restaurant.
(=The film star wore dark glasses because it was possible that there were paparazzi in the restaurant.)
* I don’t want to go out tonight because Ann might phone. √
* I don’t want to go out tonight in case Ann phones. √
* I don’t want to go out tonight in case Ann might/may/will phone. X
You can’t use “in case” instead of “if.” Compare the sentences below.
* We will buy some food in case he comes for dinner. (=We’ll buy food because he might come for dinner.)
* We will buy some food if he comes for dinner. (=We won’t buy food if he doesn’t come for dinner.)
* They have installed a burglar alarm to the car in case somebody tries to break into the car.
* The alarm will ring if somebody tries to break into the car.
IN CASE OF + NOUN ► INSTRUCTIONS
* In case of emergency, call this number. (=If there is emergency…)
* Use the stairs in case of fire. (=If there is fire…)
EXERCISE IV. Underline the best alternative.
1. I’ll draw a map for you if / in case you have difficulty finding our house.
2. This package is for Jason. Can you give it to him if / in case you see him?
3. Write your name and address on the bag if / in case you lose it.
4. I asked Jane for her telephone number if / in case I needed to contact her.
5. You should tell the police if / in case you have any information about the crime.
6. Go to the lost property office if / in case you lose your bag.
7. You should insure your car if / in case you have an accident.
8. He had his camera ready if / in case he saw something that would make a good picture.
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IN CASE VS. SO THAT
‘in case’ is used to tell the reason of something that might happen.
‘so that’ is used to talk about the purpose of the action.
* Take the keys so that you can enter my flat when I’m out.
* I’ll come with you so that you won’t/don’t get lost.
* I’ll take two pens into the exam room so that I can continue writing even if one of them runs out.
* Susan left her telephone switched on so that she could answer it when her son’s teacher called.
* The film star wore dark glasses so that no one would recognize him.
EXERCISE V. Fill in the blanks with “so that” or “in case”.
1. Take an umbrella
2. Let’s have something to eat
3. I drew a map for my friends
4. I wrote down the name of the book
5. I’ll give my daughter some money
in case
it rains.
so that
you won’t get wet.
so that
we won’t fell hungry later.
in case
we can’t get anything to eat later.
in case
they had difficulty finding our house.
so that
they could find our house easily.
in case
I forgot it.
so that
I wouldn’t forget it.
so that
she can buy a dictionary.
in case
she needs some cash.
EXERCISE VI. Rewrite the following sentences without changing their meanings. Use the given clues.
1. Don’t forget to lock all the doors and windows as there may be burglars in the neighborhood. (IN CASE)
Don’t forget to lock all the doors and windows in case there are burglars in the neighborhood.
2. I reminded him about the invitation because it was possible that he would forget to send it. (IN CASE)
I reminded him about the invitation in case he forgot to send it.
3. The thief wore gloves because he didn’t want to leave any fingerprints. (SO THAT)
The thief wore gloves so that he wouldn’t leave any fingerprints.
4. Liz took a credit card in order not to have to change money when she arrived in Athens. (SO THAT)
Liz took a credit card so that she wouldn’t have to change money when she arrived in Athens.
5. Jack carries his laptop with him all the time because he might need to troubleshoot unexpected database
problems. (IN CASE)
Jack carries his laptop with him all the time in case he needs to troubleshoot unexpected database
problems.
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WHETHER OR NOT
EVEN IF
►
express the idea that a particular condition doesn’t matter; the result will
not change
* I’m going swimming tomorrow whether or not it is cold. (…whether it is cold or not)
(If it is cold, I’m going swimming. If it isn’t cold, I am going swimming. I don’t care about the temperature. It
doesn’t matter.)
* She will cancel her son’s credit cards whether or not he agrees to it. (…whether he agrees to it or not)
(It doesn’t matter whether her son agrees to it or not. She will cancel his credit cards)
* You have to hand in your exam paper even if you haven’t finished yet.
(It doesn’t matter whether you have finished or not. You have to hand it your exam paper)
* Sally is going to marry Jason even if her parents don’t approve.
(It doesn’t matter whether her parents approve or not. Sally is going to marry Jason)
EXERCISE VII. Read the following statements/situations, and complete the following sentences about them.
1.
Sam’s uncle tells a lot of jokes. Sometimes they are funny, and sometimes they are not. It doesn’t matter, Sam
still laughs at them.
Sam laughs at the jokes whether they are funny or not.
Sam laughs at the jokes even if they aren’t funny.
2.
Maybe you’re finished with the exam, and maybe you’re not. It doesn’t matter. The time’s up, so please hand
in your exam paper.
You have to hand in your exam paper whether you are finished (with it) or not.
You have to hand in your exam paper even if you aren’t finished (with it).
3.
Max’s family doesn’t have enough money to send him to college. He would like to get a scholarship, but it
doesn’t matter because he has saved some money to go to school and has a part-time job.
Max can go to school whether or not he gets a scholarship.
Max can go to school even if he doesn’t get a scholarship.
4.
Your approval doesn’t matter to me. I am going to marry Harry.
I am going to marry Harry whether or not you approve.
I am going to marry Harry even if you don’t approve.
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