condition
Condition is the state or quality of something, like whether it is new, used, or broken.
Explanation at your level:
You use condition to talk about how things look. Is your toy new? Is it old? You can say, 'My bike is in good condition.' It means it is clean and it works well. This is a very useful word for shopping or talking about your things.
When you buy things, you check their condition. If you buy a used book, you look at the pages. If the pages are not torn, the book is in good condition. You can also talk about your health, like saying, 'I am in good physical condition because I exercise every day.'
In intermediate English, condition often refers to requirements. For example, 'I will finish my homework on the condition that I can play games later.' It also describes the environment, such as 'weather conditions.' It is a flexible word that helps you explain the state of objects or the rules of a situation clearly.
At this level, you will notice condition used in more abstract ways. We talk about the 'human condition' to describe life's challenges. You might also hear it in business, referring to 'terms and conditions' in a contract. It is a word that bridges the gap between physical descriptions and logical agreements.
Advanced learners use condition to discuss complex states. You might describe a 'precarious condition' in a political or economic context. It is also used in psychology, such as 'classical conditioning,' where a person or animal learns to react to a stimulus. The word carries a sense of precision, indicating that you are looking at the specific circumstances surrounding an event.
At the mastery level, condition reflects deep nuance. It can imply a state of being imposed by external factors, such as being 'conditioned' by one's upbringing. In literature, it is used to contemplate the existential nature of humanity. Understanding its etymological roots in 'agreement' helps you see why it is used for both physical states and legal stipulations. It is a pillar of precise, formal, and analytical discourse.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- Refers to the state of an object.
- Refers to health or fitness.
- Refers to a requirement or rule.
- Commonly used in 'terms and conditions'.
Hey there! Let's talk about the word condition. At its core, this word is all about the 'state of being' for something or someone. When you walk into a store, you might check the condition of a vintage jacket to see if it has any rips or stains. It tells you if the item is 'mint,' 'used,' or 'damaged.'
But wait, there is more! Condition isn't just for objects. You can talk about your physical condition after a long run—are you tired or energized? It can also act as a rule. If you say, 'I will go to the party on the condition that you drive,' you are setting a requirement. It is a super versatile word that pops up in everything from shopping to contracts to health checkups.
The word condition has a long and fancy history. It comes from the Latin word condicio, which meant 'agreement' or 'stipulation.' Over time, it traveled through Old French as condicion before landing in English around the 14th century.
Originally, it was mostly used to describe the terms of a contract or a social status. As English evolved, the meaning expanded to cover the physical state of things. It is fascinating how a word that started as a legal term for an 'agreement' became a common way to describe if your sneakers are worn out or if your car is in good shape!
In daily life, you will hear condition used in many ways. If you are selling something online, you will often see categories like 'Excellent condition' or 'Poor condition.' These are standard collocations that help buyers know what to expect.
In formal settings, like a business meeting, you might hear 'terms and conditions.' This is a set of rules you have to agree to. It is a very common phrase that you probably see on every website you visit! Whether you are talking about health or objects, it is a neutral, professional word that fits almost anywhere.
Idioms make language fun! Here are a few ways we use condition:
- In good condition: Meaning something is well-kept.
- On condition that: Meaning 'only if.'
- Condition someone to do something: To train or influence someone to act a certain way.
- Human condition: The characteristics and events of human life.
- Pre-existing condition: A health problem you had before getting insurance.
Condition is a countable noun, so you can say 'a condition' or 'the conditions.' The plural is 'conditions.' In terms of pronunciation, it is a three-syllable word: con-DISH-un. The stress is on the second syllable.
Rhymes include: position, addition, transition, partition, and ambition. It is a very rhythmic word! Remember, it is a noun, but it can also act as a verb, like 'to condition your hair' or 'to condition the air' in a room.
Fun Fact
It originally had nothing to do with physical health!
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'sh' sound in the middle.
Slightly more nasal 'n' at the end.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'ti' as 't' instead of 'sh'
- Stressing the first syllable
- Dropping the final 'n'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Countable vs Uncountable
a condition vs condition
Adjective placement
good condition
Prepositional phrases
in good condition
Examples by Level
The car is in good condition.
Car is good.
Noun phrase.
Is the toy in new condition?
Is it new?
Question form.
My bike is in bad condition.
Bike is broken.
Opposite of good.
The book is in great condition.
Book looks new.
Adjective usage.
Is this in good condition?
Is it okay?
Short question.
The shoes are in top condition.
Shoes are perfect.
Idiomatic phrase.
The house is in poor condition.
House needs repair.
Descriptive noun.
Keep it in good condition.
Take care of it.
Imperative.
The weather conditions are perfect for a picnic.
He is in excellent physical condition.
I bought the camera in used condition.
The contract has many conditions.
Check the condition of the box before opening.
The condition of the road is dangerous.
She is in a stable condition after the accident.
What is the condition of your old phone?
I will help you on the condition that you listen.
The bank set strict conditions for the loan.
Working conditions in the factory have improved.
The artist kept his paintings in pristine condition.
He suffers from a chronic medical condition.
The condition of the soil is perfect for roses.
We have to meet certain conditions to win.
The item arrived in mint condition.
The human condition is a common theme in literature.
Classical conditioning is a key concept in psychology.
The house was sold in as-is condition.
He was conditioned to believe that hard work pays off.
The deal is subject to several conditions.
The athlete maintains peak condition all year.
The economic condition of the country is improving.
I cannot accept those conditions.
The prisoner was held in deplorable conditions.
The deal was signed under the condition of total secrecy.
His social condition prevented him from attending.
The museum keeps the artifacts in a controlled condition.
We must consider the conditions of the treaty.
The plant thrives in humid conditions.
She accepted the job under one condition.
The legal condition of the property is disputed.
The existential dread of the human condition haunts his poetry.
The laboratory equipment must be kept in a sterile condition.
His behavior was a conditioned response to the noise.
The political conditions were ripe for a revolution.
She negotiated the conditions of her release.
The manuscript was found in a fragile condition.
The terms and conditions were buried in the fine print.
The social conditions of the era were quite harsh.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"on the condition that"
only if
I'll go on the condition that you pay.
neutral"in mint condition"
perfect, like new
The vintage car is in mint condition.
casual"the human condition"
the nature of life
Art explores the human condition.
formal"pre-existing condition"
health issue before insurance
He has a pre-existing condition.
formal"under the condition"
subject to a rule
He left under the condition of silence.
formal"in any condition"
regardless of state
I want it in any condition.
neutralEasily Confused
Similar sounds
Position is location; condition is state.
My position is here; the condition is good.
Both describe states
Situation is the event; condition is the quality.
The situation is bad; the condition is poor.
Both refer to state
Status is rank; condition is quality.
His status is high; the car's condition is low.
Legal context
Stipulation is a specific rule.
The stipulation was clear.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is in + [adj] + condition
The house is in good condition.
on the condition that + clause
I will go on the condition that you stay.
subject + verb + conditions
The weather conditions changed.
subject + has a + [adj] + condition
He has a medical condition.
subject + is conditioned to + verb
He is conditioned to work hard.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Verwandt
How to Use It
9/10
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
Condition is not a synonym for repair.
Conditions often refers to environment/rules.
It is an uncountable concept here.
Condition is physical or situational.
They are different concepts.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a 'conditioner' bottle on your head to remember the word.
When Native Speakers Use It
When selling things online.
Cultural Insight
It is a key word in all legal contracts.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use 'in' before 'condition' (e.g., in good condition).
Say It Right
Focus on the 'DISH' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't say 'a good condition' for objects.
Did You Know?
It comes from a Latin word for agreement.
Study Smart
Group it with 'terms' and 'state'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Con-DISH-un: You check the condition of the DISHES before buying them.
Visual Association
A person checking a used car with a magnifying glass.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Describe the condition of your desk right now.
Wortherkunft
Latin
Original meaning: Agreement or stipulation
Kultureller Kontext
None, but be careful when discussing medical conditions.
Very common in retail and legal documents.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- working conditions
- terms and conditions
- meet the condition
shopping
- mint condition
- used condition
- check the condition
health
- medical condition
- physical condition
- stable condition
travel
- weather conditions
- road conditions
- travel conditions
Conversation Starters
"What is the condition of your phone?"
"Do you think working conditions are important?"
"What are the conditions for your dream job?"
"Have you ever bought something in poor condition?"
"How do you keep your health in good condition?"
Journal Prompts
Describe the condition of your favorite childhood toy.
Write about a time you had to agree to a condition.
How does the weather condition affect your mood?
What does 'the human condition' mean to you?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenYes, you can have one condition or many conditions.
Usually no, use 'state of mind' instead.
It is a system that controls the condition of the air.
You say it is in 'poor condition'.
Yes, to condition someone means to train them.
The rules of an agreement.
A health issue you had before insurance.
Yes, but 'weather conditions' is more common.
Teste dich selbst
The car is in good ___.
Condition describes the state.
What does 'mint condition' mean?
Mint means perfect.
You can use 'condition' to describe a person's mood.
Condition is physical or situational.
Word
Bedeutung
Matching adjectives to states.
The phrase is 'on the condition that'.
Ergebnis: /5
Summary
Condition is a versatile word used to describe the state of things or the rules of a situation.
- Refers to the state of an object.
- Refers to health or fitness.
- Refers to a requirement or rule.
- Commonly used in 'terms and conditions'.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a 'conditioner' bottle on your head to remember the word.
When Native Speakers Use It
When selling things online.
Cultural Insight
It is a key word in all legal contracts.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use 'in' before 'condition' (e.g., in good condition).
Beispiel
The used book is in excellent condition and looks almost new.
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