Cool MateCase vs Condition
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Case
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Condition
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
| Case | Condition | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/keɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/keɪs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈdɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈdɪʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | A situation or example. | A state or situation that must be met or that affects something. |
| Example | Please put the documents in the case for safekeeping. | The condition of the car was poor after the long trip. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | classic, textbook, typical, illustrate, show, cite, arise, occur, study, example, in somebody’s/this case, case of, case by case, a case in point, be, remain, overstate, classic, textbook, typical, illustrate, show, cite, arise, occur, study, example, in somebody’s/this case, case of, case by case, a case in point, notorious, tragic, assault, handle, investigate, work on, file, report, officer, on the case, case of, court, criminal, civil, bring, prosecute, pursue, come before somebody, come to court, go to court, in a/the case, case against, case of, a case to answer, no case to answer, the circumstances of a case, compelling, convincing, good, have, prepare, outline, exist, case against, case for, the case for the defence/defense, the case for the prosecution, the merits of a case, carrying, packing, glass, in a/the case, inside a/the case, out of a/the case, attaché, overnight, acute, chronic, advanced, diagnose, report, history, notes, records, case of | excellent, good, immaculate, assess, evaluate, in… condition, critical, serious, stable, get better, improve, deteriorate, assess, monitor, in a… condition, in… condition, out of condition, be in no condition to do something, medical, life-threatening, serious, have, suffer from, be born with, favourable/favorable, good, ideal, live in, work in, work under, exist, persist, prevail, in condition, under condition, favourable/favorable, good, ideal, live in, work in, work under, exist, persist, prevail, in condition, under condition, strict, special, attach, impose, lay down, apply, on condition that, on… condition, under… condition, a breach of a condition, conditions of employment, sale, etc., terms and conditions, necessary, sufficient, create, condition for, human, improve |
| Antonyms | sameness, uniformity | disorder, chaos, confusion |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'case' as a container instead of a situation., Using 'case' without properly specifying what type of case (e.g., legal case, medical case). | Confused with 'conditions' as in multiple situations., Used incorrectly with verbs that don't match its meaning., Omitting the context, like 'condition of' instead of just 'condition'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'case' to refer to a particular situation, especially in legal or medical contexts. It is less formal than 'instance' and more common in everyday conversation. | Used in both everyday conversation and formal settings. More formal when discussing health or legal matters, while informal uses may be seen in everyday discussions about preferences. |
Frequently asked questions: Case vs Condition
What's the difference between Case and Condition?
Case: A situation or example. Condition: A state or situation that must be met or that affects something.
Are Case and Condition the same CEFR level?
Case: A2, Condition: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Case and Condition?
Case: noun, Condition: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Case: Please put the documents in the case for safekeeping. Condition: The condition of the car was poor after the long trip.
Can I use Case and Condition interchangeably?
Not always. Case and Condition are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.