À moins que is an essential French conjunction that can be translated into “unless” in English. One can use this to express conditions or even exceptions and it’s often employed in negative statements to indicate that an action cannot or will not happen unless a certain condition is met.
Definition and Explanation of à moins que
This is a very common french expression that is used by native speakers on a daily bases. It’s a conjunction that introduces a subordinate proposition. À moins que has the main function of expressing a condition, or an exception in your sentence.
One thing to remember is that we need subjunctive after the conjunctionà moins que.
Il ne viendra pas à la réunion à moins qu’il soit obligé.
He won’t come to the meeting unless he has to.
You can see in the sentence above, that the condition for the subject of the sentence to go to the meeting, he has to be obligated to go.
Je ne parlerai pas à mon professeur à moins qu’il ne me pose une question.
I won’t talk to my teacher unless he asks me a question.
Nous ne partirons pas en vacances à moins que le temps ne soit meilleur demain.
We won’t go on vacation unless the weather improves tomorrow.
Tips for Using à moins que Correctly
To avoid common mistakes like forgetting to conjugate the word that follows à moins que to match the subject of the sentence, you have to keep in mind that when you’re using this expression, you need to keep an eye on the verb conjugation and placement.
Another common mistake you need to keep in mind is that people put à moins que in the wrong part of the sentence. It should always come before the clause it’s introducing.
Now You Can Use this Expression to Voice a Condition or an Expression
As you come to the end of this lesson, we hope that you understand how to use “unless” in French. With the examples, definitions, and grammar tips, you’re ready to apply this expression to your day-to-day life and put your knowledge to the test as you talk with your friends and family. Remember to keep an eye out for verbal conjugation and word placement when using it.
Keep learning about how to Speak French Like a Pro: A Beginner’s Guide to Afin Que