Unless and Until

Usage of unless and until can be confusing at times, even though they are completely different from each other except the fact that they are both conjunctions. So, let's break down the concept and see how we can deliver a class that better explains them.

Unless

Unless simply means if not -i.e., it is the opposite of if.

Unless is a conjunction that refers to a condition not being fulfilled or met.

Some rules for using unless

¾       It is followed by a condition.
¾       The condition cannot have any negative words (since unless itself is negative).
¾       The condition cannot be in the future tense.
¾       The consequence of being incapable of fulfilling/not meeting the condition can come before or after the unless+condition sentence.

E.g.,

“I will not go to school unless Mom drives me,” said little Timmy after his dad scolded him.

Unless I see God with my own eyes, I won't believe in the concept.

Since unless is opposite to if, when the if condition is positive, the result of the condition should be converted to its opposite while converting if to unless.

E.g.,

If you pass this test, you will graduate high school.

You will not graduate high school unless you pass this test.

I would advise you not to approach the unless conjunction until you have taught the conditional clauses.

 

Until

Until simply means before and up to the time given.

It is a conjunction that is used where time is the condition.

The period is constrained by the time given.

E.g.,

You cannot leave the class until you complete the assignment.

The time taken to complete the assignment is the time constraint. You cannot leave the class before completing the assignment, no matter how long it takes to complete it.

My voice did not break until I was 13.

Before and up to 13, my voice did not break. The time constraint is the period till 13.

 

This lesson only takes about 15 minutes. So, I did not attach a lesson plan to it. But I've attached a material you can use as handout.

Material