Clause vs Condition vs Provision vs Section

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Clause

Top 2,000 (common) B1 noun

Condition

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 noun

Provision

Top 3,000 (common) C1 noun

Section

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 noun

	Clause	Condition	Provision	Section
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/klɔːz/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/klɔːz/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/kənˈdɪʃn/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/kənˈdɪʃn/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/prəˈvɪʒn/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/prəˈvɪʒn/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈsekʃn/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈsekʃn/"]/
Meaning	A group of words with a subject and a verb that is part of a sentence.	A state or situation that must be met or that affects something.	A supply or arrangement for future needs.	A part of something, like a piece of a whole.
Example	In legal terms, a clause is a distinct provision in a contract.	The condition of the car was poor after the long trip.	The provision of clean water is essential for the health of the community.	Please complete the form and sign in the designated section.
Register	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 3,000 (common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B1	A2	C1	A1
Part of speech	noun	noun	noun	noun
Collocations	main, subordinate, conditional, in a/​the clause, confidentiality, indemnity, penalty, contain, have, add, in a/​the clause, under a/​the clause, clause on	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	federal, private, state, provision of, full, adequate, detailed, make, contain, include, apply, allow something, require something, provision against, provision for, buy, stock up on, stock up with, full, adequate, detailed, make, contain, include, apply, allow something, require something, provision against, provision for	opening, concluding, final, dedicate, devote, add, leader, manager, in a/​the section, in sections, under section, a section of society, opening, concluding, final, dedicate, devote, add, leader, manager, in a/​the section, in sections, under section, a section of society, opening, concluding, final, dedicate, devote, add, leader, manager, in a/​the section, in sections, under section, a section of society, opening, concluding, final, dedicate, devote, add, leader, manager, in a/​the section, in sections, under section, a section of society, opening, concluding, final, dedicate, devote, add, leader, manager, in a/​the section, in sections, under section, a section of society
Antonyms	independent clause	disorder, chaos, confusion	deprivation, deficit	whole, entirety
Common mistakes	Confused 'clause' with 'clause of action'., Using 'clause' as a verb instead of a noun., Not recognizing dependent vs independent clauses.	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'.	Confused with 'provisions' as just food supplies., Used 'provision' when 'provide' is needed., Misunderstood as a verb instead of a noun.	Using 'section' instead of 'segment' in the context of a physical object., Confusing 'section' with 'sectional' when describing furniture., Adding unnecessary plural forms like 'sections' when referring to a single part.
Usage notes	Usually used in academic, legal, or formal writing. Be careful not to confuse it with 'phrase,' which does not have both a subject and a verb.	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.	Use 'provision' when discussing supplies, especially in a formal context like law or business. It's less common in casual conversations.	Use 'section' when referring to a distinct part of a whole, such as a chapter in a book or a part of a document. Avoid using it in contexts where a more specific term could be clearer.

Frequently asked questions: Clause vs Condition vs Provision vs Section

What's the difference between Clause, Condition, Provision, and Section?

Clause: A group of words with a subject and a verb that is part of a sentence. Condition: A state or situation that must be met or that affects something. Provision: A supply or arrangement for future needs. Section: A part of something, like a piece of a whole.

Which is more advanced: Clause, Condition, Provision, and Section?

Provision is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Clause, Condition, Provision, and Section the same CEFR level?

Clause: B1, Condition: A2, Provision: C1, Section: A1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Clause, Condition, Provision, and Section?

Clause: noun, Condition: noun, Provision: noun, Section: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Clause: In legal terms, a clause is a distinct provision in a contract. Condition: The condition of the car was poor after the long trip. Provision: The provision of clean water is essential for the health of the community. Section: Please complete the form and sign in the designated section.

Can I use Clause, Condition, Provision, and Section interchangeably?

Not always. Clause, Condition, Provision, and Section 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.