при условии что

Condition with При Условии Что

Level 4Sounds Like pri uslovii čto

при условии что is a formal way to say 'on the condition that' or 'provided that'. It is used when one action is strictly dependent on another specific requirement being met.

How It Works

The phrase consists of the preposition при, the noun условии (the prepositional case of условие - condition), and the conjunction что.

1. Usage and Register:
This is a bookish (книжный стиль) and formal/official register pattern. While если + будущее is the neutral default, при условии что is used in speech for specific emphasis on a requirement, and is standard in contracts, official emails, or scientific papers. It is frequently used with the restrictive particle только (только при условии, что... - only on the condition that).

2. Verb Moods and Tense:

  • Indicative: Used for real conditions, often with the perfective future. Unlike English, which often uses the present tense for future conditions (e.g., 'provided that he signs'), Russian usually requires the future tense for future actions (e.g., при условии, что он подпишет).
  • Subjunctive: Used for hypothetical conditions by adding the particle бы + прошедшее inside the clause (e.g., при условии, что он согласился бы). Note that for hypothetical conditions, the variant при условии, если бы is heavily favored (e.g., при условии, если бы он согласился). However, this pattern is generally restricted to possible future hypotheticals and sounds unnatural for impossible past counterfactuals, where the standard если бы ..., то ... is strictly preferred.

3. Punctuation and Structure:
This is a compound conjunction (составной союз). Authoritative sources state that при условии, что is almost always split with a comma after условии as the standard expectation in formal writing, even when the phrase begins a sentence. Because the conjunction is split, the first part acts as a correlative phrase belonging to the main clause, so there is no comma before при (e.g., Я согласен при условии, что...). This remains true even when the subordinate clause interrupts the main clause (e.g., Мы при условии, что он согласится, подпишем договор).

4. Noun Construction:
In very formal contexts, you can use при условии + родительный падеж (e.g., при условии оплаты - on condition of payment) instead of a full clause with что.

5. Variations and Negation:
For extra emphasis, you can add the demonstrative pronoun том: при том условии, что...
Other valid and common variants in legal and literary contexts include при условии, если (often used interchangeably) and при условии, чтобы (used when the condition is a requirement or a wish rather than a simple fact). Note that чтобы requires the verb to be in the past tense form (e.g., при условии, чтобы он это сделал). To form negative conditions ('provided that ... not' or 'unless'), simply add не before the verb (e.g., при условии, что он не откажется).

Examples (4)

  1. Мы подпишем договор при условии, что вы предоставите скидку.

    We will sign the contract on the condition that you provide a discount.

    Word by Word: We will-sign contract at condition, that you will-provide discount.

    This demonstrates a classic business negotiation where one action (signing) is strictly dependent on the condition (discount).

  2. Это возможно только при условии, что все стороны согласятся на компромисс.

    This is possible only on the condition that all parties agree to a compromise.

    Word by Word: This possible only at condition, that all sides will-agree to compromise.

    Here, the condition is presented as the exclusive requirement for the outcome to be possible.

  3. Эксперимент будет успешным при условии подтверждения результатов.

    The experiment will be successful on the condition of confirmation of the results.

    Word by Word: Experiment will-be successful at condition [of] confirmation [of] results.

    This shows the formal pattern using a noun in the genitive case instead of a subordinate clause.

  4. При условии, что это останется в тайне, я согласен.

    On the condition that this remains a secret, I agree.

    Word by Word: At condition, that this will-remain in secret, I agree.

    Even when the condition starts the sentence, the compound conjunction is split with a comma after 'условии'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the present tense instead of the future tense for future conditions.

    Мы подпишем договор при условии, что вы платите сегодня.
    Мы подпишем договор при условии, что вы заплатите сегодня.

    In English, future conditions often use the present tense (e.g., 'provided that you pay'). In Russian, if the condition refers to a future action, it strongly prefers the future tense (usually perfective).

  • Adding an unnecessary comma before 'при' when the phrase is in the middle of a sentence.

    Я согласен, при условии, что это останется в тайне.
    Я согласен при условии, что это останется в тайне.

    Because the compound conjunction is split with a comma after 'условии', you should not place a comma before 'при' when it connects two clauses.

  • Failing to split the conjunction with a comma, especially at the beginning of a sentence.

    При условии что это останется в тайне, я согласен.
    При условии, что это останется в тайне, я согласен.

    Unlike some other compound conjunctions, 'при условии, что' is almost always split with a comma after 'условии', even when it appears at the very beginning of a sentence.

How It Connects

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при условии чтоLevel 4Condition with При Условии Что

Learn This First

To understand 'при условии что', a learner needs to be familiar with how 'что' introduces subordinate clauses and how the preposition 'при' functions to set a context or condition. Additionally, familiarity with basic conditional logic (using 'если') is essential as this pattern is a more formal and explicit way to express a condition.

Words in This Pattern

условиепри