ibaže

Except That and Unless

Level 5

With an ordinary verb, ibaže limits what was just said: except that, only. With by and the l-form, it names the one case in which the statement would not hold: unless.

How It Works

Except that. With an ordinary verb, ibaže adds a real exception or drawback to a mostly positive statement: Byt je pekný, ibaže je trochu tmavý. (The flat is nice, except that it is a bit dark.) The meaning is close to iba or ale (only, but).

Unless: ibaže by. With by and the l-form, as in the conditional, ibaže introduces the one situation that would change the plan: Stretneme sa o piatej, ibaže by si mal iný program. (We will meet at five, unless you have other plans.) The by makes it clear that you mean a possible situation, not a fact.

Unless is not only if. Ibaže by means unless. After a positive statement, iba ak means only if, which says something quite different:

  • Prídem, ibaže by pršalo. (I will come unless it rains.)
  • Prídem, iba ak budem mať čas. (I will come only if I have time.)

A neutral way to say the same as ibaže by is a negative ak clause: Prídem, ak nebude pršať. (I will come if it does not rain.)

Examples (6)

  1. Všetko je hotové, ibaže chýba podpis.

    Everything is ready, except that the signature is missing.

    Word by Word: Everything is ready, except-that is-missing signature.

  2. Byt je pekný, ibaže je trochu tmavý.

    The flat is nice, except that it's a bit dark.

    Word by Word: Flat is nice, except-that is a-bit dark.

  3. Film sa mi páčil, ibaže bol trochu dlhý.

    I liked the film, except that it was a bit long.

    Word by Word: Film itself to-me pleased, except-that it-was a-bit long.

  4. Prídem, ibaže by pršalo.

    I'll come unless it rains.

    Word by Word: I-will-come, except-that would it-rained.

    By + l-form gives the meaning unless.

  5. Stretneme sa o piatej, ibaže by si mal iný program.

    We'll meet at five, unless you have other plans.

    Word by Word: We-will-meet at five, except-that would you had other program.

  6. Zmluvu podpíšeme zajtra, ibaže by sa niečo zmenilo.

    We'll sign the contract tomorrow unless something changes.

    Word by Word: Contract we-will-sign tomorrow, except-that would itself something changed.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a present-tense verb after ibaže by.

    Prídem, ibaže by prší.
    Prídem, ibaže by pršalo.

    By always goes with the l-form: pršalo, not prší.

  • Writing ibaže as two words.

    Všetko je hotové, iba že chýba podpis.
    Všetko je hotové, ibaže chýba podpis.

    The conjunction is one word: ibaže.

  • Using iba ak when you mean unless.

    Prídem, iba ak bude pršať.
    Prídem, ibaže by pršalo.

    After a positive statement, iba ak means only if, so this sentence says you will come only when it rains. For unless, use ibaže by + l-form.

How It Connects

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

ibažeLevel 5Except That and Unless

Learn This First

Before Except That and Unless, learn Only: len and iba and If It Were So: keby. ibaže means except that, close to len and iba. Unless-clauses often use the conditional.

Words in This Pattern

ibaže