- Have you ever wondered why we say “in mint condition” for a used phone but “in critical condition” for a patient?
- Do you struggle to choose between the prepositions “on,” “under,” or “in” when using the word condition?
- Are you looking for more professional ways to set requirements in business contracts?
Mastering condition collocations is essential for moving from intermediate to advanced English fluency. Instead of using generic words like “state” or “requirement,” using the right word combinations with “condition” allows you to describe physical objects, medical statuses, and legal agreements with the precision of a native speaker. This guide will help you navigate the noun and verb forms of “condition” to reduce language anxiety and improve your natural expression.
Essential Collocations using CONDITION as a Noun
In English, “condition” most frequently functions as a noun. It typically refers to the physical state of something, a person’s health, or a requirement that must be met.
1. Physical State and Quality
These collocations describe the “shape” or “quality” of items, buildings, or vehicles.
- In mint condition: Something that looks brand new. (e.g., “The vintage comic book is still in mint condition.”)
- In pristine condition: Perfectly clean and untouched. (e.g., “The forest remains in pristine condition.”)
- Excellent/Good/Poor condition: General descriptions of quality. (e.g., “The apartment was in poor condition when we moved in.”)
- Weather conditions: The state of the atmosphere. (e.g., “Driving in these weather conditions is dangerous.”)
2. Medical and Health Status
When discussing health, “condition” describes a patient’s status or a chronic illness.
- In critical condition: Very ill or injured, often in a life-threatening state. (e.g., “Two people remain in critical condition after the accident.”)
- Stable condition: Not getting worse, though still under medical care. (e.g., “Doctors say the patient is in stable condition.”)
- Pre-existing condition: A health problem you had before your insurance started. (e.g., “The insurance policy doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions.”)
- Medical condition: A general term for an illness or health issue. (e.g., “She has a rare medical condition.”)
3. Legal Requirements and Agreements
In business and law, “condition” refers to a rule or a prerequisite.
- Terms and conditions: The specific rules of an agreement. (e.g., “Please read the terms and conditions before signing.”)
- On condition that: Only if a specific thing happens. (e.g., “He was granted bail on condition that he stays in the city.”)
- Meet/Satisfy a condition: To fulfill a requirement. (e.g., “You must satisfy the conditions of the loan to receive the funds.”)
- Under the condition: Subject to a specific rule. (e.g., “They agreed to work under the condition of a pay raise.”)
Common Collocations with CONDITION as a Verb
When used as a verb, “condition” usually refers to a process of training or making something dependent on something else. This is common in psychology, fitness, and formal logic.
1. Psychological and Physical Training
This refers to habituating a person or animal to behave in a certain way.
- Conditioned to [verb]: Trained to react automatically. (e.g., “Society is conditioned to associate success with money.”)
- Socially conditioned: Influenced by the norms of society. (e.g., “Our tastes are often socially conditioned.”)
- Condition the body: To get the body into a fit state. (e.g., “Athletes condition their bodies for months before a race.”)
2. Dependency and Logic
This describes making one event dependent on another.
- Conditioned on/upon: Depending on something else. (e.g., “The sale of the house is conditioned on a positive inspection.”)
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Mint condition | Noun Phrase | In perfect, brand-new state. |
| Critical condition | Noun Phrase | Very serious medical state. |
| Terms and conditions | Noun Phrase | The rules of a contract. |
| On condition that | Prepositional Phrase | Provided that / Only if. |
| Conditioned to respond | Verb + Infinitive | Trained to react in a specific way. |
| Satisfy a condition | Verb + Noun | To fulfill a requirement. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| The car is in a good condition. | The car is in good condition. (No article “a”) |
| I will go with the condition that… | I will go on condition that… |
| He has a health condition. (Vague) | He has a medical condition. |
| They are conditioned for doing it. | They are conditioned to do it. |
Contextual Story
“When I bought my first vintage watch, the seller promised it was in mint condition. However, the sale was conditioned on a professional appraisal. When the expert examined it, he found a pre-existing condition with the internal gears that the seller hadn’t mentioned. I eventually agreed to the purchase on condition that the seller paid for the repairs. Now, the watch is in excellent condition, but I’ve been conditioned to check every detail twice before signing any terms and conditions again.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Condition Collocations
Is it “in condition” or “in a condition”?
When describing the general state of an object, we usually omit the article: “The car is in good condition.” However, when used as a medical synonym for a specific disease, we use the article: “She has a rare medical condition.”
What is the difference between “on condition that” and “under the condition that”?
“On condition that” is more common and functions as a conjunction meaning “provided that.” “Under the condition” is often used to describe the circumstances or environment someone is working in, such as “under hazardous conditions.”
Can “condition” be used for hair and skin?
Yes! As a verb, to “condition” hair means to apply a product (conditioner) to make it smooth. As a noun, you can talk about the “condition of your skin.”
Is “conditioned on” different from “conditioned by”?
Yes. “Conditioned on” means something depends on a factor (The deal is conditioned on your approval). “Conditioned by” means something is influenced or shaped by a factor (Our behavior is conditioned by our environment).
What does “out of condition” mean?
This is a slightly more British English expression (though understood globally) meaning that someone is not physically fit or has not been exercising lately.
This article is perfect for teaching collocation awareness! I often tell my students that collocations are the secret to sounding native and moving past intermediate plateaus. The comparison of 'state' vs. specific 'condition' collocations is a particularly great teaching point.
Regarding 'in critical condition,' it's interesting how universally understood that phrase is across English-speaking countries. Is there an equivalent, commonly used phrase for 'stable but still serious condition' in medical contexts?
You're right, David, 'in critical condition' is indeed globally recognized in medical contexts. For 'stable but still serious,' medical professionals often use phrases like 'serious but stable condition,' 'guarded condition' (implying the prognosis is uncertain), or 'stable but deteriorating/improving.' These offer more nuanced descriptions of a patient's status beyond just 'critical'.
I loved this article! It made me realize how much I didn't know about 'condition.' Can you do more articles like this for other common words that have many meanings and tricky collocations? I find these so helpful for my vocabulary!
I'm curious about the etymology of 'mint condition.' Does it relate to minting coins, implying something new and perfectly formed from the mint? Or is it from something else entirely? I love learning the history behind phrases!
You've hit the nail on the head, Omar! 'Mint condition' indeed originates from the quality of newly minted coins – fresh from the mint, uncirculated, and absolutely flawless. It perfectly illustrates how language can draw on very specific historical and occupational contexts to create vivid and lasting expressions!
Fantastic resource! The logical flow from physical state to medical to legal context for 'condition' is very intuitive. The real-world examples are excellent for illustrating meaning and help cement the usage. Keep up the great work, Translateen.com!
This is great! I'm trying to sell some old collectibles online, and now I know how to describe them properly without just saying 'good shape.' 'In pristine condition' will be perfect for my untouched items, and 'in mint condition' for the ones that look new. Thanks!
That's fantastic, Wei! Using precise collocations like 'in pristine condition' and 'in mint condition' will definitely help your listings sound more professional and accurate, attracting the right buyers. Good luck with your sales – your items will be described with native-like fluency!
What about 'on top condition'? Is that an acceptable phrase or just a common error I've heard? It sounds a bit off compared to 'in mint condition' or 'in pristine condition.'
I appreciate the emphasis on moving beyond generic words like 'state' or 'requirement.' That's often the hardest leap for advanced learners who want to sound truly native. Are there similar articles planned for other versatile nouns like 'case' or 'point'?
We're thrilled you found the focus on specificity helpful, Julian! That's precisely our goal at Translateen.com. We definitely have plans for articles exploring the nuances and collocations of other versatile words like 'case' and 'point' to help advanced learners achieve greater fluency. Stay tuned for more!
I usually feel so overwhelmed with idioms and collocations, but this article breaks it down perfectly. The tip about 'reducing language anxiety' really resonated with me. Thank you, Translateen.com! I feel much more confident now.
I'm still a bit fuzzy on when to use 'condition' as a verb. The summary mentions it, but the examples focus on the noun. Could you give a quick example of how 'condition' works as a verb in a sentence, especially in a common context?
Absolutely, Aisha! As a verb, 'condition' often means 'to bring something into a desired state' or 'to establish terms for.' For example: 'Regular exercise will condition your body for the marathon' (trains it) or 'They conditioned the sale on the buyer's ability to secure a loan' (made it dependent/contingent). It's less common than the noun, but very useful for precise expression!