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 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.
“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
