Question

Complete the sentence with the correct phrase:
You cannot succeed unless

• A. you do not work hard
• B. you shall not work hard
• C. you will work hard
• D. you work hard

Hint:

Remember "unless" already means "if not", so avoid piling on another negative.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

This is a tense-and-meaning matching question built around the word "unless". Test each option against both rules.

1. Option A (you do not work hard): "unless" already means "if not", so adding "not" again piles up two negatives and confuses the sentence. Not a fit.
2. Option B (you shall not work hard): this brings in future tense "shall" plus a second negative, so it fails on two counts at once.
3. Option C (you will work hard): this fixes the double negative problem but still uses future tense "will", which clashes with the present tense main clause "you cannot succeed".
4. Option D (you work hard): simple present, positive, no extra negative. It lines up with the main clause perfectly.

Since only option D passes both the tense check and the meaning check, it is the answer.

Let's summarize:

• "Unless" already carries a negative meaning, so avoid a second negative after it.
• Match the tense of the "unless" clause to the tense of the main clause.

Running through tense and negation together makes the right choice obvious.