Once I thought it was wrong to use not after unless, but then I found the following example on the internet:
I cannot go to the cinema unless I don’t go to the restaurant.
And now I'm trying to understand more about the usage of unless (it beats me why I cannot use it properly).
I can make the following examples with if/only if/except if (which some believe it's ungrammatical) or otherwise/provided that/on condition that.... if one is possible; and if not, just rephrase it.
But I specifically want to know if I can use unless in a sentences like:
- I pronounce every word in British unless I don't know how it's pronounced. (Intended meaning: .... if I know how it's pronounced in British, if not I pronounce it in American)
- I wouldn't ask him to bring his car unless I knew you didn't bring yours. (Instead of: I wouldn't ask him to bring his car if I didn't know you didn't bring yours. Which I admit it's clunky).
It would be much appreciated if you demonstrate how it's properly used.
Note: my question is about the grammaticality not the naturalness of this usage.
