When you’re learning Fench, you might start to see the expression “à condition que” all the time, this is a very common saying used to express condition either in writing or in speaking form. This is very useful whether you’re a beginner or an advanced french student. We’ll give you the meaning of this expression and then show you a few examples to explain how to use it correctly in your day-to-day life.
Defining this expression
This is an expression that can be translated to, “on the condition that” or even to “provided that” and it’s used to introduce a condition that must be met for an action to take place.
Je te donnerai mon livre à condition que tu me promettes de le rendre.
I’ll give you my book on the condition that you promise to give it back.
Nous pourrons aller a Disneyland à condition que tu aies fini tous tes devoirs.
We can go to Disneyland provided that you finish all your homework.
To form this expression correctly, you need to put à condition que followed by the condition that must be met.
Tu pourrais aller à condition que tu me donne le nom des parent de ton ami.
You could go as long as you give me the name of your friend’s parents.
Different uses and expressions to voice a condition
There are quite a few expressions that can help you voice a condition to do an action.
Keep in mind that these don’t help you communicate a hypothesis, they’re just used for conditions.
- à condition que (on condition that)
Je pourrais cuisiner à condition que tout reste propre.
I could cook on condition that everything stays clean.
- à la condition que (on the condition of)
Mais à la condition que ces sources soient claires.
But on the condition that these sources are clear.
- sous condition que (provided that)
On est prêts à le faire sous condition que nos apportations soient mentionés.
We are ready to do so, provided that our contributions are mentioned.
- sous la condition que (under the condition that)
Je pouvais travailler avec vous sous la condition que les films seront plus réalistes.
I could work with you on the condition that the films would be more realistic.
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à condition de (as long as)
Nous y arriverons en temps à condition de sortir maintenant.
We’ll get there in time if we get out now.
- à la condition de (on the condition of)
Montrer ceux qui veulent tout voir, à la condition de ne pas être vus.
Show those who want to see everything, on the condition of not being seen.
You’re ready to express conditions either in writing or in speaking
We hope that you feel more comfortable using this essential expression in French as you come to the end of this lesson. You need to keep in mind that this is used for making promises, stating requirements, or maybe just even a fact as it allows you to voice the conditions that must be met. Remember that practice makes perfect as you put your knowledge to the test while practicing with your friends and family.
Learn more about French Expressions to Make You Sound Like Native French