How does the conjunction “provided that” function in a sentence? What role does it play in establishing conditions or requirements for an event or action to take place? How does it modify the relationship between clauses by specifying that certain criteria must be fulfilled for something to happen?
“Provided that” is a conjunction used in English to introduce a condition or requirement that must be fulfilled for a particular event or action to take place. It functions in a sentence by indicating the condition under which the main clause can occur. Essentially, it sets up a relationship between clauses where the fulfillment of the condition introduced by “provided that” is necessary for the outcome described in the main clause to happen.
For example:
– “You can watch TV, provided that you finish your homework first.”
– “The event will be held outdoors, provided that the weather permits.”
In these sentences, the occurrence of watching TV or holding the event outdoors is dependent on the condition stated after “provided that.” This conjunction serves to establish the necessary criteria for the subsequent action or event, thereby modifying the relationship between the clauses to indicate a condition that must be met for the desired outcome to occur.