Provision with به شرطی که and در صورتی که | Farsi Grammar

Persian به شرطی که means “provided that/on condition that” and presents a requirement whose satisfaction licenses the main result. در صورتی که means “if/in the event that” and frames a contingency more neutrally and formally.

Both can introduce future possibilities, but they do not express the same condition strength. به شرطی که often sounds negotiated or imposed: the result is available only under the stated provision. در صورتی که classifies the circumstances under which a rule, action, or consequence applies.

The three-way contrast

Connector	Core relation	Typical register	Speaker stance
اگر	if	neutral in speech and writing	opens a condition without extra force
به شرطی که	provided that	neutral to formal	sets a necessary provision or bargain
در صورتی که	if, in the event that	formal-neutral; administrative	frames an objective contingency
مشروط بر اینکه	subject to the condition that	formal, legal	states an explicit binding restriction

می‌توانید خودرو را ببرید، به شرطی که تا ساعت شش برگردانید.

mi-tavânid khodro râ be-barid, be sharti ke tâ sâ'at-e shesh bar-gardânid.

You may take the car, provided that you return it by six. (neutral standard; explicit provision)

در صورتی که پرواز لغو شود، هزینه‌ی بلیت بازپرداخت می‌شود.

dar surati ke parvâz laghv shavad, hazine-ye belit bâz-pardâkht mi-shavad.

If the flight is cancelled, the ticket price will be refunded. (formal policy; contingency)

The first speaker controls permission and makes return by six its price. The second sentence states what a policy does under one possible circumstance; no personal bargain is implied.

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Ask who controls the condition. A person granting permission often chooses به شرطی که; a rule sorting possible cases often chooses در صورتی که.

به شرطی که: a necessary provision

The clause after به شرطی که commonly takes a present subjunctive when the required event is future, desired, or not yet established. The main clause may express permission, agreement, willingness, or a promised result.

با پیشنهادت موافقم، به شرطی که بودجه تغییر نکند.

bâ pishnehâd-at movâfeq-am, be sharti ke budje taghyir na-konad.

I agree with your proposal, provided that the budget does not change. (formal-neutral; negative subjunctive provision)

میام، به شرطی که زیاد دیر برنگردیم.

miyâm, be sharti ke ziyâd dir bar-na-gardim.

I’ll come, provided that we don’t get back too late. (informal, regional: Tehran; negotiated condition)

اتاق را به شما اجاره می‌دهیم، به شرطی که ضمانت‌نامه ارائه کنید.

otâq râ be shomâ ejâre mi-dahim, be sharti ke zemânat-nâme erâ'e konid.

We will rent the room to you provided that you present a guarantee letter. (formal; imposed requirement)

The negative prefix replaces affirmative subjunctive بـ in نکند، نکنیم. With a compound verb such as ارائه کردن, the mood-bearing light verb appears as ارائه کنید, normally without an overt بـ.

The condition need not be harsh. It can be a mutually acceptable arrangement: کمکت می‌کنم، به شرطی که تو هم دفعه‌ی بعد کمکم کنی “I’ll help you provided you help me next time too.” Its defining feature is conditional commitment.

در صورتی که: formal contingency

در صورتی که is frequent in regulations, instructions, application forms, contracts, and careful explanations. It is often more formal than plain اگر, but formality does not automatically make the condition stronger.

در صورتی که نشانی شما عوض شده باشد، این فرم را تکمیل کنید.

dar surati ke neshâni-ye shomâ avaz shode bâshad, in form râ takmil konid.

If your address has changed, complete this form. (formal administrative instruction; perfect subjunctive)

در صورتی که دمای دستگاه بالا برود، آن را خاموش کنید.

dar surati ke damâ-ye dastgâh bâlâ be-ravad, ân râ khâmush konid.

If the device temperature rises, turn it off. (formal instruction; prospective condition)

در صورتی که قبلا ثبت‌نام کرده‌اید، نیازی به ساخت حساب تازه نیست.

dar surati ke qablan sabt-nâm karde-id, niyâzi be sâkht-e hesâb-e tâze nist.

If you have already registered, there is no need to create a new account. (formal; indicative perfect treats registration as a checkable fact)

The first two conditions are prospective and use subjunctive forms. The third asks the reader to classify an already established fact and therefore uses indicative present perfect ثبت‌نام کرده‌اید. The connector does not mechanically force one mood.

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Choose mood from the status of the condition. Open or prospective: شود، برود، کرده باشد. Presented as an existing checkable fact: کرده‌اید، دارید، هستید.

در صورت + noun versus در صورتی که + clause

Formal Persian has a compact nominal pattern در صورت + noun: در صورت تأخیر “in case of delay,” در صورت نیاز “if necessary.” A finite clause instead takes در صورتی که.

در صورت تأخیر قطار، به مسافران اطلاع داده می‌شود.

dar surat-e ta'khir-e qatâr, be mosâferân ettelâ' dâde mi-shavad.

In the event of a train delay, passengers will be informed. (formal; nominal condition)

در صورتی که قطار تأخیر داشته باشد، به مسافران اطلاع داده می‌شود.

dar surati ke qatâr ta'khir dâshte bâshad, be mosâferân ettelâ' dâde mi-shavad.

If the train is delayed, passengers will be informed. (formal; finite condition)

در صورت که mixes the two patterns and is not the standard finite connector. Preserve either the nominal ezafe construction or full در صورتی که.

“If” is not always “provided that”

Plain اگر is the unmarked choice when no bargain, gatekeeping rule, or formal case classification is intended.

اگر فردا باران ببارد، در خانه می‌مانیم.

agar fardâ bârân be-bârad, dar khâne mi-mânim.

If it rains tomorrow, we’ll stay home. (neutral ordinary condition)

Replacing اگر with به شرطی که would suggest that rain is a requirement for staying home, almost as though someone imposed it. در صورتی که is semantically possible but makes this domestic sentence sound like a formal contingency plan. Real Conditionals with اگر covers the neutral system.

English “in case” has two readings

English in case can introduce a true condition or give the reason for a precaution. در صورتی که directly expresses the first:

در صورتی که برق قطع شود، سامانه به باتری پشتیبان وصل می‌شود.

dar surati ke barq qat' shavad, sâmâne be bâtri-ye poshtibân vasl mi-shavad.

If the power goes out, the system connects to the backup battery. (formal; consequence occurs only under the condition)

For a precaution taken before the event, Persian often makes the precaution explicit: برای احتیاط چراغ‌قوه بردار؛ شاید برق قطع شود “Take a flashlight as a precaution; the power may go out.” Translating every English in case as در صورتی که can incorrectly postpone the precaution until the risk actually occurs.

Clause order and punctuation

An initial provision frames the domain of the rule and normally takes a comma. A postposed به شرطی که clause foregrounds the offer or commitment first, then adds its restriction. Postposed در صورتی که is possible but long formal conditions are easier to process first.

به شرطی که همه موافق باشند، تاریخ جلسه را تغییر می‌دهیم.

be sharti ke hame movâfeq bâshand, târikh-e jalase râ taghyir mi-dahim.

Provided that everyone agrees, we will change the meeting date. (formal-neutral; provision first)

کلید را بهت می‌دم، به شرطی که گمش نکنی.

kelid râ be-hat mi-dam, be sharti ke gom-ash na-koni.

I’ll give you the key, provided you don’t lose it. (informal, regional: Tehran; offer first, restriction second)

A short negotiation

— می‌تونم لپ‌تاپت رو برای سفر ببرم؟ — آره، به شرطی که توی ماشین نذاریش و دوشنبه برش گردونی. — قبوله.

— mi-tunam laptop-at ro barâ-ye safar be-baram? — âre, be sharti ke tu-ye mâshin na-zâri-sh va doshanbe bar-esh garduni. — qabul-e.

— Can I take your laptop on the trip? — Yes, provided you don’t leave it in the car and bring it back Monday. — Agreed. (informal, regional: Tehran)

Common Mistakes

1. Using future خواهد inside an open provision

❌ در صورتی که هوا سرد خواهد شد، برنامه را تغییر می‌دهیم.

Incorrect neutral condition — the open future clause normally uses subjunctive سرد شود.

✅ در صورتی که هوا سرد شود، برنامه‌ی بازدید را تغییر می‌دهیم.

dar surati ke havâ sard shavad, barnâme-ye bâzdid râ taghyir mi-dahim.

If the weather turns cold, we will change the visit schedule.

2. Mixing indicative می‌ into a prospective provision

❌ می‌آیم، به شرطی که دیر نمی‌برگردیم.

Incorrect prefix and mood form — the negative prospective form of برگشتن here is برنگردیم, not نمی‌برگردیم.

✅ می‌آیم، به شرطی که دیر برنگردیم.

mi-âyam, be sharti ke dir bar-na-gardim.

I’ll come, provided that we do not get back late.

3. Mixing the nominal and finite patterns

❌ در صورت که سامانه قطع شود، صبر کنید.

Incorrect connector — use در صورت with a noun or در صورتی که with a finite clause.

✅ در صورتی که سامانه قطع شود، چند دقیقه صبر کنید.

dar surati ke sâmâne qat' shavad, chand daqiqe sabr konid.

If the system disconnects, wait a few minutes.

4. Dropping که before a finite provision

❌ به شرطی هزینه را بپردازید، ثبت‌نام کامل می‌شود.

Incorrect standard clause structure — به شرطی requires که before a finite clause.

✅ به شرطی که هزینه را بپردازید، ثبت‌نام کامل می‌شود.

be sharti ke hazine râ be-pardâzid, sabt-nâm kâmel mi-shavad.

Registration is completed provided that you pay the fee.

Key Takeaways

به شرطی که states a necessary provision or bargain; در صورتی که frames a formal contingency.
Open and prospective conditions commonly use the subjunctive, while established checkable facts may use the indicative.
Use در صورت + noun but در صورتی که + finite clause.
Plain اگر is better when neither negotiated force nor formal case classification is intended.
Do not translate precautionary English in case mechanically as در صورتی که.

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