אלא אם כן

Unless a Condition Applies

Level 5

אלא אם כן means unless or except if. The clause describes the condition that could make the main statement change.

How It Works

The Exception

Keep the connector as the complete phrase אלא אם כן. Its clause can contain a noun predicate or a future event. The condition does not have to be true; it names an exception that matters.

Read the Main Statement Too

לא אקנה אותו אלא אם כן המחיר ירד means I will not buy it unless the price drops. The negative main statement and the positive exception work together. This example has no extra לא in the price-drop clause. Read the main statement and the exception together before choosing a negative form.

Related Structures

אם introduces an ordinary condition. In the rain example for גם אם, the plan remains in force despite the condition. אלא אם כן instead identifies a condition under which the main result might not apply. Translate the whole dependency, not only the word if embedded in the phrase.

Examples (4)

  1. נצא לטיול אלא אם כן ירד גשם.

    We will go on an outing unless it rains.

    Rain is the exception to going.

  2. לא אקנה אותו אלא אם כן המחיר ירד.

    I will not buy it unless the price drops.

    A positive price-drop condition permits a change to the negative plan.

  3. הפגישה תהיה כאן אלא אם כן נחליט אחרת.

    The meeting will be here unless we decide otherwise.

    A different decision is the exception.

  4. אני אגיע בזמן אלא אם כן יהיה עיכוב.

    I will arrive on time unless there is a delay.

    The existential future names the possible exception.

How It Connects

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

אלא אם כןLevel 5Unless a Condition Applies

Learn This First

Express the condition that would prevent an otherwise expected consequence.