2. The phrases on condition that, conditionally that, in case that, provided that, but that, so that. These should be considered as one word.
3. The imperatives say, let, suppose; as, “Suppose you were going to carpet a room, would you use a carpet having representations of flowers upon it?”—Dickens. Here the condition seems to be actual and present, not imaginary.
4. The participles providing, provided, supposing. The first two are especially useful in introducing a restriction.
Sometimes there is no connective, but the subordination and the nature of the clause are indicated by the order of the words, the verb or its auxiliary being placed before the subject; thus, “Had I twenty girls, they should be brought up exactly in this fashion.”—Lamb.
Exercise 16
Dispose of all clauses of condition in the following sentences:
1. If I had my will, every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.—Dickens.
2. Despotism is a legitimate mode of government in dealing with barbarians, provided the end be their improvement, and the means justified by actually effecting that end.—Mill.
3. Education will not make people happy, unless it is directed into useful channels.—Lord.
4. The hall was open to all who came on condition that the guest should leave his weapons at the door.—Besant.