conditions
conditions — noun
1. The physical things that surround a person or place and affect what happens ther
The physical things that surround a person or place and affect what happens there, such as the weather, light, noise level, or air quality — for example, the conditions in a workplace, a classroom, or an outdoor street.
Drivers must slow down when road conditions are icy.
collocation: road conditions / weather conditions
The hospital improved sanitary conditions after the outbreak.
collocation: living conditions / working conditions
Ananya found it hard to study in such noisy conditions.
Under normal conditions, the flight takes about three hours.
Rescue workers were trained to operate in extreme conditions.
- circumstances
broader term that includes non-physical factors like money or timing
- environment
focuses on the surrounding setting rather than specific factors
- atmosphere
more about the mood or air quality of a place
文法句型
used in plural form
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form. The singular 'condition' has a different range of meanings relating to state or requirement.
常見錯誤
2. The physical state of a person, animal, or object, especially regarding health,
The physical state of a person, animal, or object, especially regarding health, fitness, or whether something is working well — for example, a patient in serious condition or a used car in mint condition.
The injured cyclist was taken to hospital in critical condition.
collocation: in [adj] condition
You need to keep your body in good condition by exercising regularly.
collocation: keep/stay in good condition
Sofia bought a second-hand piano that was still in excellent condition.
The doctor says his heart condition has not changed since last year.
Eli checked the tyres and found them in poor condition.
文法句型
in [adj] condition
用法筆記
When used without an article ('in condition'), refers to fitness level. With an article ('a condition'), usually means a medical problem or illness. Often used with adjectives like 'good', 'poor', 'critical', 'stable'.
常見錯誤
3. Something that must be agreed to, done, or present before something else can hap
Something that must be agreed to, done, or present before something else can happen or be allowed — for example, a company setting conditions for a loan, or a parent allowing their child to go out on certain conditions.
The bank agreed to lend them the money on condition that they repay it within five years.
grammar: on condition that + clause
Raj accepted the job offer but set one condition: he would work from home twice a week.
collocation: set/attach/impose a condition
The contract contains several conditions that both parties must satisfy before the sale goes through.
Entry to the competition is subject to the conditions printed on the back of the ticket.
One of the conditions of the scholarship is that students maintain a grade average above eighty percent.
- requirement
more direct; 'condition' adds the idea of a stipulation that limits or qualifies
- stipulation
more formal and legal in tone
- term
usually plural 'terms', common in contracts and agreements
- proviso
formal synonym for a limiting condition
文法句型
on condition that + clause
condition + that-clause
set/meet a condition
用法筆記
Commonly takes a that-clause. The phrase 'on condition that' is a fixed expression meaning 'only if' and can replace a more complex conditional structure. Distinguish from noun sense 1 (physical circumstances) — this sense is about rules or terms.
常見錯誤
4. A specific section in a legal document such as a contract, will, or insurance po
A specific section in a legal document such as a contract, will, or insurance policy that states what must happen or who is responsible in a particular situation — for example, a condition that an insurance payout depends on proof of damage.
The insurance policy contains a condition that requires the homeowner to install smoke detectors.
collocation: contain/include a condition
A condition precedent means the contract only becomes active once a certain event takes place.
legal term: condition precedent
Their lawyer argued that the other party had not fulfilled the conditions of the agreement.
Before signing the lease, Mateo read every condition in the tenancy contract.
The will states that ownership of the house is subject to the condition that the garden remains open to the public.
- clause
broader term for any section of a legal document
- provision
a formal term for a specific legal rule within a document
- stipulation
emphasises that something is demanded as part of an agreement
文法句型
condition precedent
condition subsequent
subject to condition
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 3: sense 3 is a general requirement in any context, while sense 4 is a formal legal term with specific enforceable status. In legal writing, 'condition precedent' refers to an event that must happen before a duty arises, while 'condition subsequent' terminates an existing duty after an event.
常見錯誤
5. A person's position or standing in society, often based on wealth, birth, or occ
A person's position or standing in society, often based on wealth, birth, or occupation.
In some historical societies, people of noble condition had privileges that others did not.
formal: of [adj] condition
The novel explores the lives of families of humble condition in nineteenth-century London.
Class divisions at that time meant people rarely married outside their own condition.
She rose from a condition of poverty to become a respected judge.
文法句型
of [adj] condition
用法筆記
Archaic or literary in modern English. More commonly replaced by 'social status', 'class', or 'station'. Usually appears in fixed phrases like 'of noble condition' or 'of humble condition'.
常見錯誤
6. The personal qualities, habitual ways of behaving, or natural temperament that f
The personal qualities, habitual ways of behaving, or natural temperament that form someone's character.
The therapist noted that the patient's happy condition of mind helped her recovery.
formal: condition of mind
Her naturally cheerful condition of mind helped her remain calm during the crisis.
formal: condition of mind = state of mind / temperament
His quiet condition of mind made him a patient and observant teacher.
The philosopher wrote about the natural condition of humankind being driven by both reason and emotion.
- temperament
more common modern term for natural character
- disposition
similar formality, refers to inherent personality
- nature
broader term covering both inborn and learned qualities
用法筆記
This sense is formal and somewhat literary in modern English. It overlaps with 'temperament' or 'disposition' but is less commonly used. More frequent in fixed phrases such as 'condition of mind' or 'human condition'.
7. A low mark given to a student that is too poor to pass a course but can be raise
A low mark given to a student that is too poor to pass a course but can be raised to a passing grade if the student completes extra assignments within a set time.
Omar received a condition in chemistry and had to retake the final exam.
The professor gave her a condition instead of a failing grade, allowing her to submit extra work.
collocation: give/get/receive a condition
If you remove the condition by the end of the semester, your transcript will show a passing grade.
The university allows students only one condition per academic year.
- incomplete
different: an 'incomplete' is for unfinished work, while a 'condition' is for unsatisfactory completed work
文法句型
get/receive a condition
remove a condition
用法筆記
This sense is specific to certain American universities and is not widely understood outside of that context. Much less common than 'incomplete' (another type of temporary grade).
8. The part of a conditional sentence (usually beginning with 'if' or 'unless') tha
The part of a conditional sentence (usually beginning with 'if' or 'unless') that states the situation that must be true for the result in the other clause to happen.
In the sentence 'If it rains, the picnic will be cancelled', the condition is 'If it rains'.
grammar: if-condition clause
Students often confuse the condition clause with the result clause in conditional sentences.
The condition 'unless you apologise' introduces the only situation that would change the outcome.
In zero conditional sentences, both the condition and the result are in the present simple tense.
- result clause
the main clause that states what happens when the condition is met
文法句型
if-condition clause
condition clause + main clause
用法筆記
Used in grammar teaching. A 'condition clause' is the same as the 'if-clause' or 'protasis' in traditional grammar terminology. It can appear at the beginning or end of the sentence, separated by a comma when it comes first.
常見錯誤
conditions — verb
1. To train a person or animal to behave or react in a certain way through repeated
To train a person or animal to behave or react in a certain way through repeated experience — for example, conditioning a dog to sit when it hears a bell, or people becoming conditioned to work in a noisy environment.
The dogs were conditioned to salivate when they heard a bell ring.
psychology: classical conditioning / Pavlovian conditioning
After years of early shifts, Tao had conditioned himself to wake up before sunrise.
reflexive: condition oneself to
People living near airports become conditioned to the noise of planes overhead.
Athletes condition their bodies through daily practice and a strict diet.
The soldiers were conditioned to respond instantly to commands in any situation.
文法句型
condition + person/animal + to + verb
be conditioned to + verb/noun
用法筆記
In psychology, 'condition' is a technical term (classical vs operant conditioning), but in everyday use it simply means 'to get used to something through repetition'. Closely related to 'train' but 'condition' emphasises automatic, often unconscious responses.
常見錯誤
2. To state formally that something is only possible or allowed if another thing ha
To state formally that something is only possible or allowed if another thing happens first — for example, a donation conditioned on the school changing its policy.
The grant was conditioned on the organisation submitting a detailed budget plan.
passive: be conditioned on + noun
Her offer to help was conditioned by several strict requirements.
The university conditions its scholarship awards on students maintaining a high grade average.
Neither party may condition acceptance of the agreement on future negotiations.
文法句型
condition + on + noun
be conditioned on/by + noun
用法筆記
Almost always takes the preposition 'on' or 'upon'. Frequently used in the passive voice. Distinguish from verb sense 1 (train/adapt) which takes the preposition 'to'.
常見錯誤
3. To supply a room, building, or vehicle with cool dry air using a mechanical syst
To supply a room, building, or vehicle with cool dry air using a mechanical system.
The new office building is fully air-conditioned to keep workers comfortable in summer.
passive: be air-conditioned
Only the main hall is air-conditioned; the smaller rooms rely on fans.
Nadia prefers to work in an air-conditioned space rather than one with open windows.
The hotel room was air-conditioned but the system broke down on the hottest day.
- air-condition
the full and more common form of this verb
文法句型
be conditioned
conditioned + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used in the past participle form ('conditioned') in the phrase 'air-conditioned'. The bare verb 'to condition' alone to mean 'air-condition' is rare outside technical or industry use.
常見錯誤
4. To give a student a temporary low mark that can be improved by completing extra
To give a student a temporary low mark that can be improved by completing extra work within a certain time.
The professor conditioned three students in the introductory physics course.
collocation: condition + student + in + subject
If you are conditioned in a class, you have one semester to raise your grade.
The department policy allows instructors to condition no more than ten percent of their students.
Arjun was conditioned in history but managed to pass after submitting extra essays.
- give an incomplete
different: 'incomplete' is for unfinished coursework, while 'condition' is for completed but unsatisfactory work
文法句型
condition + student
be conditioned in + subject
用法筆記
Restricted to a small number of American universities. Much less common than 'giving an incomplete' or 'failing'. The student is said to 'remove the condition' by completing the required extra work.