Condition

à moins que

FormalB2

What follows

à moins que + a clause in the subjunctive

See the subjunctive entry →

Function

Condition

Meaning

States the ONLY condition that would prevent the rest: "unless". Subjunctive.

Position and punctuation

within the sentence · no comma

Example

La séance est maintenue, à moins que la salle ne soit indisponible.

The session stands, unless the room is unavailable.

In the DELF

the B2 essay · the C1 synthesis

The trap

The "ne" often seen after à moins que is EXPLETIVE: it negates nothing. Leaving it out is not a mistake; reading it as a negation is.

Read the full lesson : Condition and hypothesis →

Same function