What is the difference between 'if' and 'provided that' in conditional clauses?

Conditional Clauses Questions Medium



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What is the difference between 'if' and 'provided that' in conditional clauses?

The difference between 'if' and 'provided that' in conditional clauses lies in their usage and the level of certainty they convey.

'If' is a commonly used conditional conjunction that introduces a condition or possibility. It is used to express a hypothetical or uncertain situation. For example, "If it rains, we will stay indoors." In this case, the speaker is unsure if it will rain or not, and the action of staying indoors is dependent on the condition of rain.

On the other hand, 'provided that' is a more formal and specific conditional phrase that implies a condition must be met for something else to happen. It suggests a stronger sense of certainty or requirement. For example, "You can borrow my car provided that you return it by tomorrow." Here, the speaker is stating a condition that must be fulfilled (returning the car by tomorrow) in order for the person to borrow the car.

In summary, 'if' is used for general possibilities or hypothetical situations, while 'provided that' is used to indicate a specific condition that must be met for something else to occur.