a non ser que / agás que

Unless

Level 4

A non ser que, agás que and salvo que mean unless and take the subjunctive: Iremos á praia, a non ser que chova (we will go to the beach unless it rains).

How It Works

The pattern

Main clause + a non ser que / agás que / salvo que + subjunctive. All three mean unless. The clause can also come first: Salvo que haxa algún problema, chegaremos ás oito.

Which subjunctive? For the present or future, use the present subjunctive: chova, prefiras, haxa. In a past story, use the past subjunctive: Non saía, a non ser que o chamasen (he did not go out unless they called him).

The se variants. A non ser se, agás se and salvo se mean the same, but they follow the rule of se: the present indicative, never the present subjunctive. Sairemos a pasear agás se chove (we will go for a walk unless it rains).

Agás and salvo also work as prepositions meaning except: Veñen todos agás Xoán (everyone is coming except Xoán). The que or se turns them into conjunctions. A menos que is another accepted synonym.

Compare. Sempre que and con tal de que give the condition that must be met; a non ser que gives the one that would cancel the plan.

Examples (5)

  1. Iremos á praia, a non ser que chova.

    We will go to the beach unless it rains.

    Word by Word: We-will-go to-the beach, to not be that it-rains.

    Chova is present subjunctive.

  2. Imos ao cine, agás que prefiras quedar na casa.

    We are going to the cinema, unless you would rather stay at home.

    Prefiras is the present subjunctive of preferir.

  3. Salvo que haxa algún problema, chegaremos ás oito.

    Unless there is some problem, we will arrive at eight.

    Haxa is the present subjunctive of haber.

  4. Non te chamo, a non ser que pase algo importante.

    I will not call you unless something important happens.

    The present tense chamo refers to the future here.

  5. Sairemos a pasear agás se chove.

    We will go for a walk unless it rains.

    With se instead of que, the verb is indicative: chove.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indicative after a non ser que.

    Iremos á praia, a non ser que chove.
    Iremos á praia, a non ser que chova.

    A non ser que, agás que and salvo que take the subjunctive.

  • Using the present subjunctive after the se variants.

    Sairemos agás se chova.
    Sairemos agás se chove.

    Like se on its own, agás se takes the present indicative, not the present subjunctive.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

a non ser que / agás queLevel 4Unless

Learn This First

Unless expressions identify the exception that would prevent the result.

Words in This Pattern

agássalvo