Exercise 2: Other Conditional Words

How could you rewrite the following sentences using the suggested alternative conditional words?

Write your answers in the boxes and click 'submit' to see a possible answer for each question. There are many possible answers.

E.g. as long as
I'll go if you go too
Answer: I'll go as long as you go too.

1. As long as

The research will continue if there is enough funding.
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Suggested answer: The research will continue as long as there is enough funding.

This is a type 5 conditional - prediction. You could also reverse this sentence:

As long as there is enough funding, the research will continue.

2. Only if

Don't vote unless you like this person.
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Suggested answer: Only vote if you like this person.

This is a type 5 conditional - command. N.B. only and if can be separated. If you keep only and if together the sentence is like this:

Vote only if you like this person.

3. Otherwise

You can only do the quiz if you have access to the Internet.
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Suggested answer: You need access to the Internet, otherwise you will not be able to do the quiz.

This is a type 3 conditional - implication. N.B . You cannot reverse the clauses in this sentence.

4. Provided that

This experiment is likely to succeed if we follow all the steps correctly.
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Suggested answer: This experiment is likely to succeed provided that we follow all the steps correctly.

This is a type 3 conditional - implication. You could also reverse this sentence:

Provided that we follow all the steps correctly, this experiment is likely to succeed.

You could also omit the word that:

Provided we follow all the steps correctly, this experiment is likely to succeed.

5. Providing that

As long as I have all my data I will finish my thesis next year.
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Suggested answer: Providing that I have all my data, I will finish my thesis next year.

This is a type 5 conditional - prediction. You could also reverse this sentence:

I will finish my thesis next year, providing that I have all my data.

You could also omit the word that:

Providing I have all my data, I will finish my thesis next year.

6. Supposing

If you are interested in language you could study linguistics.
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Suggested answer: Supposing you are interested in language, you could study linguistics.

This is a type 6 conditional - advice. You could also reverse this sentence:

You could study linguistics, supposing you are interested in language.

7. Unless

The students have an excellent attitude to their studies, but they will drop the subject next year if it is not interesting.
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Suggested answer: The students have an excellent attitude to their studies, but they will drop the subject next year unless it is interesting.

This is a type 5 conditional - prediction. N.B. Unless = if not. That means that you don't need not with unless. The negative meaning of not is included in the negative prefix un. You could also reverse this sentence:

The students have an excellent attitude to their studies, but unless it is interesting they will drop the subject next year.

8. When

Nothing can compensate for the lack of data, if you consider the matter carefully.
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Suggested answer: Nothing can compensate for the lack of data, when you consider the matter carefully.

This is a type 3 conditional - implication. You could also reverse this sentence:

When you consider the matter carefully, nothing can compensate for the lack of data.

9. Whenever

I always become confused if I read the guidelines for using the printer.
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Suggested answer: I become confused whenever I read the guidelines for using the printer.

This is a type 2 conditional - habit. You could also reverse this sentence:

Whenever I read the guidelines for using the printer I become confused.

N.B. You do not need to include always if you have the word whenever.

10. Whether or not

People can participate in the study even though they are not enrolled in this course.
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Suggested answer: People can participate in the study whether or not they are enrolled in this course.

This is a type 6 conditional - possible plan. You can separate the phrase whether or not:

People can participate in the study whether they are enrolled in this course or not.

You could also reverse this sentence:

Whether or not they are enrolled in this course, people can participate in the study.

N.B. If you use whether or not the verb becomes positive, without not:

whether or not they are enrolled in this course.

Compare this to the original, where even though is followed by a negative verb:

even though they are not enrolled in this course.