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Eimai_Anglos Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Providing he uses his brain.

"Providing he uses his brain."

I know this phrase should be "provided (that) he uses his brain" but can somebody please explain why, in terms of parts of speech?

As a native English speaker I usually know intuitively what is right but I can't always explain why!

Martin
  

Top answer

Both providing and provided seem correct to me and the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: providing: on the condition or understanding (that); provided: He can stay here providing he works. CB

— Cool Breeze

  • Both providing and provided seem correct to me and the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: providing: on the condition or understanding (that); provided: He can stay here providing he works.
  • CB
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5 Answers
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Both providing and provided seem correct to me and the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary:

providing:

on the condition or understanding (that); provided: He can stay here providing he works.

CB
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Hi Martin,

Based on my 20 years of studying the language, I have learned that both are correct, providing a proper context is given. I agree though "provided" seems to be used more often as people tend to believe it's more formal.
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I agree that "providing" is in common usage but it still seems incorrect to me.

"He will be providing food for his family provided that he works hard."
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Miriam-Websters has a separate entry for "providing" - it is a conjunction.

conj. On the condition;
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Something that can happen providing or providing that, or provided or provided that something else happens or cannot happen unless the second thing does.

(Times-Chambers Essentail English Dictionary)
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