ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B2.old/Grammar-wiki-B2-100.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 

除非 (chúfēi) can be used as a conjunction, and means "unless." 否则 (fǒuzé) or 不然 (bùrán) often appear in the following phrase, to form a construction meaning "''unless'' x, ''otherwise'' y":

== Simplified Construction ==

The simplified construction more directly maps to the basic English usage of "unless," as in, "I won't do it ''unless'' you pay me."

=== Structure ===

除非 means "unless" in the following "y , 除非 x" pattern.  The sentences below place emphasis on the part after 除非.

<div class="jiegou">
Result / Fact ，除非 + Condition
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*我 不 去 ，<em>除非</em> 你 也 去 。<span class="trans">I won't go unless you go.</span>
*你 不能 进 ，<em>除非</em> 你 有 预约 。<span class="trans">You can't come in unless you have an appointment.</span>
*我 不 说 ，<em>除非</em> 你 答应 我 不会 生气 。<span class="trans">I won't tell you unless you promise me you won't be upset.</span>
*你 不 会 这么 快 升职 ，<em>除非</em> 你 表现 很 好 。<span class="trans">You won't get promoted so soon unless you perform very well.</span>
*我们 公司 一般 不 允许 员工 请假 ，<em>除非</em> 理由 很 充分 。<span class="trans">The company won't allow it's staff time off unless their reason is good enough.</span>

</div>

== Advanced Construction ==

In the full construction, 除非 comes first, and the meaning is "''Unless'' x, ''otherwise'' y."

===Structure===

<div class="jiegou">
除非 + Condition ，否则 / 不然 + Result / Fact
</div>

===Examples===

<div class="liju">

*<em>除非</em> 你 是 会员 ，<em>否则</em> 不能 进去 。<span class="trans">Unless you have the membership, yo can't come in.</span>
*<em>除非</em> 有 奇迹 ，<em>不然</em> 他 的 病 治 不好 。<span class="trans">Unless miracle happens, his disease can't be cured.</span>
*<em>除非</em> 你 听 我 的 ，<em>否则</em> 我 不 会 帮 你 。<span class="trans">Unless you listen to me, I won't help you.</span>
*<em>除非</em> 你 有 证据 ，<em>不然</em> 谁 会 相信 ？<span class="trans">Unless you have proof, who is going to believe it?</span>
*<em>除非</em> 你 是 名牌 大学 毕业 的 ，<em>否则</em> 老板 不会 考虑 你 的 。<span class="trans">The boss won't consider you unless you graduate from a brand-name university university.</span>

</div>

==Used with 才==

除非 is also used in the patterns below.  The meaning expressed is the same as the sentences above, but below the "Y" part expresses what '''won't''' happen ''unless'' the 除非 condition is met.  It might be more helpful to think of 除非 here as meaning "only if."

===Structure===

<div class="jiegou">
除非 x，才 y
</div>

So that's "'''Only if''' x, y."

===Examples===

<div class="liju">

*<em>除非</em> 我们 买 很 多 ，老板 <em>才</em> 能 给 我们 便宜 点 。<span class="trans">Only if we buy a lot, the shop owner can make it less expensive.</span>
*<em>除非</em> 旧 的 坏了 ，我 <em>才</em> 会 买 新的 。<span class="trans">Only if  the old one is broken, I will buy a new one.</span>
*<em>除非</em> 有 很好 的 工作 机会 ，他 <em>才</em> 回 老家 。<span class="trans">Only if there is a very good job opportunity, he will go back to my hometown.</span>
*<em>除非</em> 老板 给 我 加薪 ，我 <em>才</em> 会 留下来 。<span class="trans">Only if the boss gives me a pay raise, I will stay.</span>
*<em>除非</em> 他 犯 了 很 大 的 错 ，老板 <em>才</em> 会 炒 他 的 鱿鱼 。<span class="trans">Only if he makes a very big mistake, his boss will fire him.</span>

</div>

==See also==
*[["Except" and "in addition" with "chule… yiwai"]]
*[[Expressing "even if…" with "jishi"]]
*[[Expressing "otherwise" with "yaobu"]]

==Sources and Further Reading==

*[[Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)]] [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7802006473/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7802006473] [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B002ZNK7JE&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B002ZNK7JE →buy]

[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|除非|B2|除非⋯⋯，才⋯⋯|<em>除非</em> 你 求情 ， 他 <em>才</em> 肯 帮忙 。|grammar point|ASGMD0YY}}
{{Rel char|要不}}
{{Rel char|不然}}
{{Rel char|否则}}
{{Similar|"Except" and "In addition" with "chule… yiwai"}}
{{Similar|Expressing "Even if…" with "jishi"}}
{{Similar|Expressing "otherwise" with "yaobu"}}
{{Used for|Indicating cause and effect}}
{{Structure|Conditional Statements}}