Uses of “in case” in Sentences
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 present tense for the future.
I’ll leave my phone switched on in case Jane calls. (not in case Jane will call)
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 difficulty finding our house. (= because it is possible you will have difficulty)
I’ll remind them about the meeting in case they’ve forgotten. (= because it is possible they have forgotten)
We use in case to say why somebody does (or doesn’t do) something. You do something now in case something happens later.
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)
We rang the doorbell again in case they hadn’t heard it the first time.
In case is not the same as if. Compare:
Model Sentences of In case
We’ll buy some more food in case Tom comes. (= Perhaps Tom will come; we’ll buy some more food now, whether he comes or not; then we’ll already have the food if he comes.)
I’ll give you my phone number in case you need to contact me.
Model Sentences of If
We’ll buy some more food if Tom comes. (= Perhaps Tom will come; if he comes, we’ll buy some more food; if he doesn’t come, we won’t buy any more food.)
You can phone me at the hotel if you need to contact me.
Uses of In case – Exercises
A. Write sentences with in case.
- There was a possibility that Jane would call. So I left my phone switched on. I left______________________________________________________________________
- Mike thought that he might forget the name of the book. So he wrote it down. He wrote down_______________________________________________________
- I thought my parents might be worried about me. So I phoned them. I phoned_______________________________________________________________________
- I sent an email to Liz, but she didn’t reply. So I sent another email because perhaps she hadn’t received the first one. I sent ____________________________
- 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 address. I gave ________________________________________________________________________
B. Put in (in case) or (if).
- I’ll draw a map for you ________ you have difficulty finding our house.
- This letter is for Susan. Can you give it to her ________ you see her?
- Write your name and address on your bag ________ you lose it.
- Go to the lost property office ________ you lose your bag.
- The burglar alarm will ring ________ somebody tries to break into the house.
- You should lock your bike to something _________ somebody tries to steal it.
- I was advised to get insurance ________ I needed medical treatment while I was abroad.
- I hope you‘ll come to London sometime. _________ you come, you can stay with us.
- You should tell the police _________ you have any information about the crime.