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Alternative conditional conjunctions and their polarity traps.
Why you specifically
The rule
Unless and provided that are alternative conditional conjunctions. Unless means ‘if not’, so the clause after it is normally positive: We will go unless it rains = We will go if it does not rain. Provided that means ‘only if’ or ‘on the condition that’: You may borrow the book provided that you return it tomorrow. In both structures, avoid adding will inside the condition clause in standard English.
The trap
I will not go unless it will not stop raining.
I will not go unless it stops raining.
Unless means ‘if not’, so the clause after unless is positive. Do not use not in both clauses.
You can borrow my laptop provided that you return it yesterday.
You can borrow my laptop provided that you return it tomorrow.
Provided that means ‘only if’; it introduces a condition, not a contrast or a reason.
We will leave unless the meeting will finish early.
We will leave unless the meeting finishes early.
After unless, use a normal present-tense condition, not will.
I will help you provided that politely.
I will help you provided that you ask politely.
Provided that is followed by a full, grammatical condition. It cannot be left as a fragment.
Prove it
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