Provided, as long as, supposing
Vary your conditionals with provided that, as long as, supposing, assuming, on condition that, even if and otherwise.
In this lesson you will
- Use conditions: provided/providing, as long as, on condition that
- Use hypotheticals: supposing, imagine, what if
- Distinguish even if, unless and otherwise
Learn
Strict conditions: provided (that) / providing / as long as / on condition that: You can borrow it provided that* you return it by Friday.*
Hypotheticals: supposing / suppose / imagine / what if — often with past tenses for unlikely situations: *Supposing you lost your job, what would you do?*
assuming (that) = if we accept that: *Assuming the train is on time, we’ll arrive at six.*
even if = it makes no difference: I’ll go even if* it rains.* unless = if not. otherwise = or else: Hurry, otherwise* we’ll be late.* but for + noun (formal) = if it weren’t for: *But for your help, we’d have failed.*
Examples
- As long as you’re honest, I won’t be angry.
- Supposing you won the lottery, would you stop working?
- I wouldn’t go even if they paid me.
- Assuming nothing goes wrong, the project will finish in May.
Vocabulary
provided that
only if
supposing
imagine that
assuming
if we accept that
even if
whether or not
but for
if it weren’t for (formal)
Practice
You can stay ___ you don’t make too much noise.
Speaking
Negotiate lending your flat, car or laptop to a friend using provided that, as long as, on condition that and otherwise.
Writing
Write the terms of a flat-share agreement (100–120 words) using at least five alternatives to if.
Lesson quiz
___ the weather is good, we’ll have a barbecue.
Review
Key points
- provided/as long as/on condition that = only if.
- supposing/imagine/what if = hypothetical.
- assuming = if we accept.
- even if, unless, otherwise, but for.
What you learned
- ✓ I can vary conditional language.
- ✓ I can set conditions precisely.
- ✓ I can discuss hypotheticals.
Grammar reference: Conditionals: zero, first, second and third, Conjunctions and linking words