5. Grammar: Expressing Conditions, Circumstances, Precautions, and Alternatives

In addition to if-clauses, there are also some other ways to express conditions. What is more, contracts do not stipulate terms and conditions only, but they often talk about other circumstances, specify some precautions and give alternatives. Therefore, some other expressions are also used:

  • provided (that); on condition that; as long as; so long as; with the proviso that; should (not) + a clause
  • in the event that + a clause; in the event of + a noun; in case of + a noun
  • in case + a clause
  • even if + a clause
  • otherwise + a clause

The overview above gives these expressions in five groups based on their meaning. The problem is that not all of them can simply be replaced by the word “if”. This is because some of them do not express a condition, but a circumstance, precaution or alternative. Read about them in more detail on p. 3 of the same grammar overview mentioned in Section 4. Then do this task to see if you have understood this grammar point. After that, fill in the gaps in this follow-up task. Then, complete the follow-up memo from the Widgett director to the head of the legal team, confirming the six conditions discussed in Section 3 above. Finally, complete the gaps in this transcript and then check your answers by watching the video. The video deals with commercial disputes. However good your contract may be, when doing business, you may sometimes encounter disputes and of course, you wish to resolve them as smoothly as possible. This is what the video can help you with.