provided
/prəˈvaɪ.dɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /prəˈvaɪ.dɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /prəˈvaɪdɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /prəˈvaɪdɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /prə-ˈvī-dəd/ (ame, mw)
provided — verb
- providedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- provideds3rd person singular
- provideding-ing form
- providededpast simple
1. the past and past-participle form of 'provide' — appearing in perfect constructi
the past and past-participle form of 'provide' — appearing in perfect constructions (has/have/had provided) and passive voice (was/were provided with) to indicate that something was given or made available earlier
All the art materials were provided by the community centre for free.
passive: were provided by [someone]
The local council provided Aylin's family with a larger apartment after the fire.
collocation: provided [someone] with [something]
New students at Indra's school were provided with a laptop on their first day.
The charity has provided clean drinking water to three mountain villages since 2021.
Hot meals were provided for elderly residents during the coldest weeks of winter.
- withheld
deliberately not given when expected
文法句型
be provided with [something]
provide [something] for [someone]
have provided [something]
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice. In passive sentences, 'provided with' introduces what someone receives ('Students were provided with laptops'), while 'provided by' introduces the giver ('Laptops were provided by the school').
常見錯誤
2. to actively give or make available something that someone needs, as a present-te
to actively give or make available something that someone needs, as a present-tense action rather than a past event — for example, a company provides its employees with equipment, or a teacher provides students with learning materials
The hotel provided a free breakfast buffet for its guests every morning.
transitive: provided + direct object + for [recipient]
A local bakery provided fresh bread and pastries for the school fundraiser.
Elena's aunt provided her with a place to stay while she looked for an apartment.
The tour guide provided useful information about each building on the walk.
Several neighbours provided food and blankets after the storm damaged Camille's house.
文法句型
provide [something] for [someone]
provide [someone] with [something]
provide [something] to [someone]
用法筆記
When describing the act of giving, two common patterns exist: 'provide something for someone' and 'provide someone with something'. Both are interchangeable — 'The company provided uniforms for its staff' means the same as 'The company provided its staff with uniforms.'
常見錯誤
3. to state officially and clearly in a law, contract, or other legal document what
to state officially and clearly in a law, contract, or other legal document what must happen or be done, especially when certain conditions apply
The lease provided that tenants could keep pets with the landlord's written permission.
provide + that-clause for legal conditions
The company's safety policy provided that all workers must wear protective helmets on site.
The contract provided that payment was due within thirty days of receiving the invoice.
The new law provided that each apartment must have a fire escape on every floor.
文法句型
provide + that-clause
用法筆記
Almost always followed by a that-clause. The subject is typically a law, contract, agreement, policy, rule, or other formal document. This sense is rarely used in everyday conversation — it belongs to legal, official, and regulatory writing.
常見錯誤
provided — conjunction
1. only if a particular condition is satisfied — used to introduce what must be tru
only if a particular condition is satisfied — used to introduce what must be true before another thing can happen or be considered acceptable
You can borrow my camera, provided you return it before the weekend.
conjunction: provided + condition clause
The surgery will go ahead, provided the patient's test results come back normal.
Children may use the swimming pool, provided an adult watches them at all times.
We will finish the project by Friday, provided everyone completes their assigned tasks.
The outdoor concert will take place, provided the weather stays dry and warm.
- if
more common and less formal; 'provided' sounds more cautious or official
- as long as
similar in meaning but slightly more conversational
- on condition that
more formal and emphatic, common in legal documents
- unless
introduces the opposite condition — something will not happen except if something else happens
文法句型
provided + condition clause
provided that + condition clause
用法筆記
Often followed by 'that' ('provided that'), though 'that' can be dropped in everyday use. The verb in the condition clause is usually in the present tense, even when referring to a future event — 'provided it rains' not 'provided it will rain'. This conjunction is slightly more formal than 'if' and is common in official rules, policies, and polite requests.