Conjunctions Worksheets - 15 Worksheets Library - Free Printable

You're working on a worksheet titled “Coordinating Conjunctions”, but actually — this is a bit of a misnomer. The instructions say:
> *“Choose from the conjunctions if and unless to fill in the blank in each sentence below.”*

✔ So this is actually about subordinating conjunctions, specifically conditional conjunctions: *if* and *unless*.

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🔍 Key Difference:

- If = introduces a condition that must be met for something to happen.
> *I’ll go if you come with me.* → I go only if you come.

- Unless = means “if not” — it introduces a negative condition.
> *I won’t go unless you come with me.* → I go only if you come (same meaning as above, but phrased negatively).

So:
> Unless = If not

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Let’s solve each sentence one by one, choosing if or unless based on logical meaning.

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✔ SOLUTIONS:

1. The cow won’t be happy ________ you’ll be his valentine.
→ She won’t be happy *unless* you’re his valentine.
→ unless

2. We will be late ________ we don’t hurry.
→ We’ll be late *if* we don’t hurry.
→ if

3. I will call you ________ you give me your number.
→ I’ll call you *if* you give me your number.
→ if

4. We won’t succeed ________ we work together.
→ We won’t succeed *unless* we work together.
→ unless

5. I will be tired ________ I don’t get to sleep early.
→ I’ll be tired *if* I don’t sleep early.
→ if

6. I won’t come over ________ you say it’s okay.
→ I won’t come over *unless* you say it’s okay.
→ unless

7. I won’t take a shower ________ there is hot water.
→ I won’t take a shower *unless* there’s hot water.
→ unless

8. I will say I don’t remember this ________ you ask me later.
→ I’ll say I don’t remember *if* you ask me later. (This implies a conditional response.)
→ if

9. You won’t succeed ________ you keep trying.
→ You won’t succeed *unless* you keep trying.
→ unless

10. He will remember you ________ you tell him that story.
→ He will remember you *if* you tell him that story.
→ if

11. The dog will behave ________ you train him.
→ The dog will behave *if* you train him.
→ if

12. I don’t go out ________ I have to.
→ I don’t go out *unless* I have to.
→ unless

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📝 Final Answer Key:

1. unless
2. if
3. if
4. unless
5. if
6. unless
7. unless
8. if
9. unless
10. if
11. if
12. unless

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💡 Teaching Tip:

To help students remember:
> “Unless” = “If not”
> So replace “unless” with “if not” and see if the sentence still makes sense.

Example:
> *I won’t come over unless you say it’s okay.*
> → *I won’t come over if you do NOT say it’s okay.* → Makes sense!

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✔ Done! All blanks filled correctly with either if or unless. Let me know if you’d like a printable version or explanation cards for students!