English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 114: In case

Study this example situation:

Your car should have a spare wheel because it is possible you will have a puncture.

Your car should have a spare wheel in case you have a puncture.

In case you have a puncture = because it is possible you will have a puncture.

Some more examples of in case:
  • I'll leave my mobile phone switched on in case Jane calls. (= because it is possible she will call)
  • I'll draw a map for you in case you have problems finding our house. (= because it is possible you will have problems)
  • I'll remind them about the meeting in case they've forgotten. (= because it is possible they have forgotten)

We use just in case for a smaller possibility:
  • I don't think it will rain, but I'll take an umbrella just in case. (= just in case it rains)

Do not use will after in case. Use a present tense for the future (see Unit 25):
  • I'll leave my phone switched on in case Jane calls. (not in case Jane will call)

In case is not the same as if. We use in case to say why somebody does (or doesn't do) something. You do something now in case something happens later.

Compare:
in caseif
We'll buy some more food in case Tom comes. (= Maybe Tom wilt come. We'll buy some more food now, whether he comes or not; then we'll already have the food if he comes.)We'll buy some more food if Tom comes. (= Maybe Tom will come. If he comes, we'll buy some more food; if he doesn't come, we won't buy any more food.)
I'll give you my phone number in case you need to contact me.You can call me on this number if you need to contact me.
You should insure your bike in case it is stolen.You should inform the police if your bike is stolen.

You can use in case + past to say why somebody did something:
  • I left my phone switched on in case Jane called. (= because it was possible that Jane would call)
  • I drew a map for Sarah in case she had problems finding the house.
  • We rang the doorbell again in case they hadn't heard it the first time.

In case of is not the same as in case. In case of ... = if there is ... (especially on notices etc.):
  • In case of fire, please leave the building as quickly as possible. (= if there is a fire)
  • In case of emergency, call this number. (= if there is an emergency)

114.1 Sophie is going for a long walk in the country. You think she should take:

  • some chocolate
  • a map
  • an anorak
  • a camera
  • some water

You think she should take these things because:

  • it's possible she'll get lost
  • she might get hungry
  • perhaps she'll be thirsty
  • maybe it will rain
  • she might want to take some pictures

What do you say to Sophie? Write sentences with in case.

  1. .
  2. Take __________ .
  3. __________ .
  4. __________ .
  5. __________ .

114.2 What do you say in these situations? Use in case.

  1. It's possible that Jane will need to contact you, so you agree to give her your phone number.
    You say: I'll give you my phone number .
  2. A friend of yours is going away for a long time. Maybe you won't see her again before she goes, so you decide to say goodbye now.
    You say: I'll say goodbye now __________ .
  3. You are shopping in a supermarket with a friend. You think you have everything you need, but maybe you forgot something. Your friend has the list. You ask her to check it.
    You say: Can you __________ ?
  4. You advise a friend about using a computer. You think he should back up (= copy) his files because maybe there will be a problem with his computer (and he could lose all his data).
    You say: You should back up __________ .

114.3 Complete the sentences using in case.

  1. There was a possibility that Jane would call. So I left my phone switched on.
    I left .
  2. I thought that I might forget the name of the book. So I wrote it down.
    I wrote down the name of the book __________ .
  3. I thought my parents might be worried about me. So I phoned them.
    I phoned my parents __________ ?
  4. I sent an email to Lisa, but she didn't reply. So I sent another email because maybe she didn't get the first one.
    I sent her another email __________ .
  5. I met some people when I was on holiday in France. They said they might come to London one day. I live in London, so I gave them my phone number.
    I gave them my phone number __________ .

114.4 Put in in case or if.

  1. I'll draw a map for you you have problems finding our house.
  2. You should tell the police you have any information about the crime.
  3. I hope you'll come to Australia sometime. __________ you come, you must visit us.
  4. This book belongs to Susan. Can you give it to her __________ you see her?
  5. Write your name and phone number on your bag __________ you lose it.
  6. Go to the lost property office __________ you lose your bag.
  7. The burglar alarm will ring __________ somebody tries to break into the house.
  8. You should lock your bike to something __________ somebody tries to steal it.
  9. I was advised to get insurance __________ I needed medical treatment while I was abroad.

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