Unless, in case and as long as: on one condition – exercises on conditions, precautions and warnings

This B2 drill lesson gives unless and in case exercises along with as long as, provided (that), otherwise and even if, telling a condition from a precaution.

Grammar: Unless = if … not, in case for a precaution, as long as and provided (that) for only if, otherwise, even if, and in case of + a noun.
Topic: Renting an apartment: the house rules of Calloway Court, an invented building, the landlord's email, a hallway notice and a chat with the tenant, Tamsin.
Activities: True or false, sorting, linker choices, verb gaps, tables, rewrites, matching, word order, find-the-mistake quizzes, drag-and-drop texts, a memory game, a chat and a test.

What's inside

Chapter 1The rule
- PictureUnlock
- Study the scheme: unless, in case, as long asGrammar schemeTry it
- Is the sentence correct? Mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
- Sort the sentences: unless, in case or as long as?Sort into columnsTry it
- Choose the right linkerChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: the verb after the linkerFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 2Unless and otherwise
- Choose if or unless: the meaning decidesChoose the optionTry it
- Fill in the table: if … not and unlessFill in the tableUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right words: unlessQuizUnlock
- Match the beginnings and the endings: otherwiseMatchUnlock
- Write the sentences again with unless or otherwiseFill in the gapsUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: unless and otherwiseUnjumbleUnlock
- Read the climbing gym's rules and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
Chapter 3Just in case
- Choose in case or if: a precaution or a condition?Choose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: in case + present or pastFill in the gapsTry it
- Choose the right sentence for the situationQuizUnlock
- Match the precautions and the reasonsMatchUnlock
- Choose in case or in case ofChoose the optionUnlock
- Read the kayak tour's email and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: in caseUnjumbleUnlock
Chapter 4On one condition
- Choose the right words: as long as, provided and providingChoose the optionUnlock
- Write the sentences again with the word in bracketsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose if, unless or even ifChoose the optionUnlock
- Sort the sentences: as long as, in case or even if?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Read the bike rental's terms and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropTry it
- Find the mistake and choose the right words: conditionsQuizUnlock
- Find the matching pairs: same meaningMemory gameUnlock
Chapter 5Real life: The lease
- Read the house rules of the rental agreementReal-life documentUnlock
- Read the house rules again: true or false?True or falseUnlock
- Read the landlord's welcome email and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Tamsin's message to her mom and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read the notice in the hallway and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
- Choose the right replies: Tamsin texts youChatTry it
- Test yourself: choose the right answerQuizUnlock
Chapter 6Homework
- Choose the right linker: everyday situationsChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: the right form after the linkerFill in the gapsUnlock
- Sort the sentences: correct or wrong?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: rules and plansUnjumbleUnlock
- Fill in the table: only if, unless and as long asFill in the tableUnlock
- Match the questions and the answersMatchUnlock
- Choose the right sentence for the situation: everyday lifeQuizUnlock
- Choose in case or if: travel plansChoose the optionUnlock
- Write the sentences again with the word in brackets: a new jobFill in the gapsUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right words: everyday EnglishQuizUnlock
- Find the matching pairs: unless and if … notMemory gameUnlock
- Read the festival's FAQ and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Read Hamish's post and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Drag the words into the gaps: rules and precautionsDrag and dropUnlock
- Is the sentence correct? Mark true or false: signs and noticesTrue or falseUnlock

Grammar: unless, in case, as long as and otherwise

These linkers attach a condition, a precaution or a warning to a sentence. Unless means if … not, as long as means only if, in case means you get ready first, otherwise says what happens if not, and even if means the result stays the same: I'm going for a run even if it rains.

Unless, in case and as long as: on one condition

Conditions, precautions and warnings: unless, in case, as long as, provided (that), otherwise and even if.

Unless = if … not

The not is already inside unless, so the verb after it stays positive: Unless you book now, you won't get a seat means If you don't book now. Likewise Dogs can't come in unless they're on a leash.

unless+ a positive verb= if … not

Unless you book now, you won't get a seat. (= If you don't book…)

Dogs can't come in unless they're on a leash.

I'll be there at six unless my train is late.

In case or if?

With in case you act first, whether it happens or not: Take an umbrella in case it rains. With if you act only when it happens: Call me if it rains. A past precaution takes the past simple: I took a map in case we got lost.

in case: a precaution

You do it first, whether it happens or not.
Take an umbrella in case it rains. (You take it now.)
I'll buy more milk in case Tom comes. (I buy it today.)
The past: I took a map in case we got lost.
At the end: Take some cash, just in case.

if: a condition

You do it only if it happens.
Call me if it rains. (You call only when it rains.)
I'll buy more milk if Tom comes. (Only if he comes.)

As long as, provided, on condition that, in case of

As long as, provided (that), providing (that) and on condition that all mean only if; the last is the most formal. In case of takes a noun, mostly on signs: In case of fire, use the stairs.

Linker	Meaning	Example
unless	if … not	You can't park here unless you have a permit.
in case	a precaution: you get ready for something that might happen	Take a jacket in case it gets cold.
as long as · provided (that) · providing (that) · on condition that	only if (on condition that is the most formal)	You can stay as long as you keep it quiet.
otherwise	if not, … (it starts a new clause)	Leave now. Otherwise, you'll miss the train.
even if	it doesn't matter if: the result is the same	I'm going for a run even if it rains.
in case of + a noun	if there is (on signs), or to be ready for it	In case of fire, use the stairs.

Otherwise, and even if or even though

Otherwise opens a new clause after a command or must: Hurry up, otherwise we'll be late. Even if is for something that may happen; for a fact, use even though: Even though it was raining, we went out.

Otherwise · the past · even though

Otherwise starts a new clause after a command or must: Hurry up, otherwise we'll be late. In speech, or (else) works too. The past: in case + past simple: She took a coat in case it got cold. Even if is for something that may happen; for a fact, say even though: Even though it was raining, we went out.

No will after the linker, and other slips

After unless, in case, as long as, provided and even if, a present tense covers the future: Bring a map in case the GPS stops working, not will stop. Watch for provided if, unless you don't and if where you act first.

No will after the linker

After unless, in case, as long as, provided, providing, on condition that and even if, use a present tense for the future: in case it rains (not: in case it will rain). Unless already means if not: unless you hurry (not: unless you don't hurry). Say provided or provided that, never provided if.

Common mistakes

Unless you don't hurry, we'll be late.
Unless you hurry, we'll be late.
unless already means if not
Bring a map in case the GPS will stop working.
Bring a map in case the GPS stops working.
no will after in case
Pack a raincoat now if it rains on the trip.
Pack a raincoat now in case it rains on the trip.
a precaution: you act first → in case
You can come provided if you bring food.
You can come provided (that) you bring food.
provided or provided that, not provided if

Examples

You can use the pool provided that you shower first.a formal condition
I'll give my neighbor a key in case I lose mine.a precaution
We'll eat outside unless it's too windy.= if it isn't too windy
Turn the heating down at night, otherwise the bill will be huge.= if you don't
I'll finish this report tonight even if I have to stay late.it doesn't matter if I have to stay late
You can stay out late as long as you text me.= only if you text me

More lessons on this grammar: Zero and first conditional lessons and exercises

Try the unless and in case exercises

Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.

What's in the lesson

41 auto-checked exercises
5 games
1 real-life document
1 grammar scheme
1 picture

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

use unless with a positive verb: Unless you leave now, you'll be late, not Unless you don't leave now
tell a precaution from a condition: Print your boarding pass in case your phone battery dies. You'll get your money back if the concert is canceled.
keep will out of the linker's clause and use the past for a past precaution: in case it rains; She wrote down the address in case she forgot it.
set a condition with as long as, provided (that) or on condition that: You can bring your dog provided that it stays on a leash.
warn with otherwise and say the result won't change with even if: Wear gloves, otherwise your fingers will freeze. I'm telling her the truth, even if she gets angry.

Grammar:: unless · in case · as long as · provided (that) · otherwise · even if
Topic:: grammar practice · renting an apartment · house rules · rules and conditions

Teaching tips

Pack a hiking bag as a class: students call out what they'd take, each with in case (a flashlight in case it gets dark); then add one if reaction for contrast: I'll call a ranger if someone gets hurt.
Draft a classroom lease: after the Calloway Court notice, pairs write three rules with as long as, unless and provided that, swap them and check the verb after each linker.
Say unless as if … not first: when a student writes unless you don't, ask them to read the sentence aloud with if … not, so they hear the double negative themselves.

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The whole course: English Grammar Practice · B2

English Grammar Practice · B2 has 24 drill lessons, one grammar point each: the future perfect and continuous, the third and mixed conditionals, wishes, past modals, the impersonal passive, have something done, participle clauses, reporting verbs and verb patterns. Each has the rule as a scheme, 43 to 47 exercises that check themselves, 15 of them for homework, and no new words.See the course

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