Thanks Sam for this - I have started teaching nuances and the inner mechanics of word usage to my advanced students now. The credit for this inspiration goes go you, of course! 😊
what a subtle difference! I've never given it much thought. I've always been sure that they are practically the same. Having done my own research after watching this video, I also found ou that "We don’t use unless for things that we know to be true" (Cambridge dictionary) and "Unless is used to talk about a situation that could happen. . If you know that something has not happened or that something is not true, use if… not " (Oxford dictionary)
Thank you for mentioning what the Cambridge dictionary says. I've just read it now and I don't think the way it's phrased is perfectly clear, or rather, I think it makes it sound like an extra tricky rule that you need to carefully think about, when it's just a simple one that we basically already now. A simpler way to put it would be to say that we don't use UNLESS with third Conditionals, which is the example the dictionary gives and which is 100% true, and maybe I should have mentioned it in my video but it didn't even cross my mind 😜 thanks!
Thanks for your detailed explanations! After learning the video, my conclusion is that: Logically they are the same. But in the daily communication, "A if not B" emphasizes that B leads to A while "A unless B" emphasizes that A is more like a normal situation, B is an exception to make A change to the opposite. Is my understanding correct? I hope I have made myself clear.
That's a great mathematical way to put it! 💪😉 Yes, you are correct in how you describe it with letters but careful: it's not just that they change meaning in daily communication. They are often the same when they mean EXCEPT IF, but if they don't, their meaning and logic changes 😉
Great point Sam, I never thought about it before. (Now that I have heard you speak about it, should I instead go for "I had never thought about it", emphasizing the point of time where you came in, or does that sound off to your native ears if people do that?) I understand. And btw, do you think when we say "I understand", we mean we're on it as in standing on it, or we've come right under it so it stands right on top of our heads as in now having it in our minds?
Those are very good questions! 1. I HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT is most definitely the one I'd go for and it doesn't sound off at all. That being said, there seem to be a lot of options and opinions about the usage of the past perfect in cases like these, but in this specific one, I stand by the idea that it's the most correct one 2.I've always wondered where UNDERSTAND comes from. I mean, I know it comes from the German VERSTEHEN, where STEHEN means STAND but VER doesn't mean UNDER. So the question is more about where VERSTEHEN comes from. I can't think of a connection with Latin, but I'm not the best person to answer these questions. However, your explanation sounds very plausible, so why not? 😉
Very subtle differences indeed! Thanks for sharing!
🤩🤩 Thanks for watching!
Thank you, Sam! Beautifully explained, as always. Have a great 2024!
Thank you so much and have a wonderful year, too! 🤩🥳
@@EnglogicSam Thank you! 😘🥳
Thanks Sam for this - I have started teaching nuances and the inner mechanics of word usage to my advanced students now. The credit for this inspiration goes go you, of course! 😊
That's fantastic to hear, Nilanthi, thanks! I'm really happy my channel is a source of inspiration! 😍🤩😍🤩
what a subtle difference! I've never given it much thought. I've always been sure that they are practically the same. Having done my own research after watching this video, I also found ou that "We don’t use unless for things that we know to be true" (Cambridge dictionary) and "Unless is used to talk about a situation that could happen. . If you know that something has not happened or that something is not true, use if… not " (Oxford dictionary)
Thank you for mentioning what the Cambridge dictionary says. I've just read it now and I don't think the way it's phrased is perfectly clear, or rather, I think it makes it sound like an extra tricky rule that you need to carefully think about, when it's just a simple one that we basically already now. A simpler way to put it would be to say that we don't use UNLESS with third Conditionals, which is the example the dictionary gives and which is 100% true, and maybe I should have mentioned it in my video but it didn't even cross my mind 😜 thanks!
Thanks for your detailed explanations! After learning the video, my conclusion is that: Logically they are the same. But in the daily communication, "A if not B" emphasizes that B leads to A while "A unless B" emphasizes that A is more like a normal situation, B is an exception to make A change to the opposite. Is my understanding correct? I hope I have made myself clear.
That's a great mathematical way to put it! 💪😉
Yes, you are correct in how you describe it with letters but careful: it's not just that they change meaning in daily communication. They are often the same when they mean EXCEPT IF, but if they don't, their meaning and logic changes 😉
@@EnglogicSam Thank you! I'll remember that!
@@user-oc7ss1xb2x 😉
Great point Sam, I never thought about it before. (Now that I have heard you speak about it, should I instead go for "I had never thought about it", emphasizing the point of time where you came in, or does that sound off to your native ears if people do that?) I understand. And btw, do you think when we say "I understand", we mean we're on it as in standing on it, or we've come right under it so it stands right on top of our heads as in now having it in our minds?
Those are very good questions!
1. I HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT is most definitely the one I'd go for and it doesn't sound off at all. That being said, there seem to be a lot of options and opinions about the usage of the past perfect in cases like these, but in this specific one, I stand by the idea that it's the most correct one
2.I've always wondered where UNDERSTAND comes from. I mean, I know it comes from the German VERSTEHEN, where STEHEN means STAND but VER doesn't mean UNDER. So the question is more about where VERSTEHEN comes from. I can't think of a connection with Latin, but I'm not the best person to answer these questions. However, your explanation sounds very plausible, so why not? 😉
Sir, could you please make a video on "use of what if"
I'll see if I can turn it into a full video; otherwise, I can do a short 😊
@@EnglogicSam thank u sir I'll be waiting