Prepositional Phrases Related to Condition

Prepositional Phrases Related to Condition

Hello English learners! Do you know how to express what must happen first in order for something else to take place? In English, we use prepositional phrases related to condition — handy little phrases that explain the circumstance under which something is true, possible, or allowed. Phrases such as in case of, on condition that, or subject to are common in formal writing, exam tasks, and everyday situations. They help you sound precise, natural, and confident, especially in contexts like the FCE or CAE exams where accuracy and range of expression are highly valued. In today’s lesson, we’ll explore a variety of prepositional phrases related to condition. You’ll learn their meanings, see them in example sentences, and discover how to use them in essays, reports, and conversations. By the end, you’ll be ready to handle any situation that starts with an “if” in English — but in a much more stylish way!  

Phrase	Meaning	Example sentence
In case of	If something happens	In case of emergency, call this number.
In the event of	If something occurs (formal)	In the event of a strike, flights may be cancelled.
On condition that	Only if something is true/happens	He lent me the book on condition that I returned it within a week.
Provided (that)	Only if; as long as	You can stay out late provided (that) you text me first.
Providing (that)	Similar to provided that (slightly less formal)	The picnic will go ahead providing the weather is nice.
Subject to	Depending on something happening	The offer is subject to availability.
In the absence of	If something is missing	In the absence of clear evidence, the jury had doubts.
But for	If it were not for (hypothetical)	But for her help, I wouldn’t have finished on time.
In default of	If something is lacking (formal, legal)	In default of payment, the property will be seized.
Without	If something doesn’t exist/happen	Without your support, this project will fail.
On the understanding that	With the agreement that (formal)	He signed the contract on the understanding that he’d receive a bonus.
On pain of	With the threat of punishment if not done (very formal, legal)	Trespassers will be prosecuted on pain of fine or imprisonment.
Barring	If something doesn’t happen (similar to unless)	Barring accidents, we should arrive by 7 p.m.
Save for	Except if; unless (formal)	Save for unexpected delays, the train will arrive on time.
Conditioned upon	Dependent on (formal, business/legal)	The merger is conditioned upon government approval.
In default of compliance	If someone fails to follow rules (formal/legal)	In default of compliance, the licence will be revoked.
Failing	If something doesn’t happen	Failing a miracle, the company will go bankrupt.

  Quick teaching tip for exams:

• Use “in the event of”, “subject to”, “on condition that” in formal writing (essays, reports, proposals).
• Use “but for”, “barring”, “failing” in speaking or stories — they add sophistication and variety.

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