Grammar-Quizzes › Connectors › Connective Prepositions › Conditional › If vs. In case
If vs. In case
Conditioned vs. Precautionary Action
Conditioned vs. Precautionary Action
| CONDITION ACTION | |
|---|---|
Do this action after X happens or might happen — this is an emergency action. |
|
| SECOND ACTION | FIRST ACTION (REQUIRED) |
| ADVICE | CONDITION |
Use the batteries and bottled water |
if there is an earthquake. |
Use the fire extinguisher |
if there is a kitchen fire. |
Use the first-aid kit |
if you cut yourself. |
| PRECAUTIONARY ACTION | |
|---|---|
Do this action before X happens or might happen — this is an emergency preparation (precaution). |
|
| FIRST ACTION | SECOND ACTION |
| PRECAUTION | SITUATION |
Keep some extra batteries and bottled water on hand |
in case there is an earthquake. |
Buy a fire extinguisher |
in the event (that) there is a kitchen fire. |
Have a first-aid kit on hand |
should you cut yourself. |
on hand (Adj) – something that can be used, be easily found, be available
precaution (N) – something you do in order to prevent something dangerous or unpleasant from happening
precautionary (Adj) – adjective form of the above word
prepare (V) – do something in advance in order to be ready
See If - Statements
If & In Case
Tense Agreement
Tense Agreement
| PRESENT PRECAUTION — URGENT SITUATION | |
|---|---|
Use present, present progressive or future tense in the precaution clause. Use present tense for the urgent-situation in the "in the event" phrase. |
|
| PRECAUTION – PRESENT | CONDITION – PRESENT |
We store emergency supplies |
in the event an accident occurs. |
Men keep a canary with them in a coal mine |
in case the air turns bad. (present habit) |
I will carry an umbrella in my car trunk |
in case it rains. (present verb form) |
| PAST PRECAUTION— URGENT SITUATION | |
|---|---|
Use past tense for habitual precautions in the past, especially with used to or would. Use past tense in the clause with the urgent situation. |
|
| PRECAUTION – PAST | CONDITION – PAST |
We would keep emergency supplies |
in the event an accident occurred. (past habit) |
Men carried a canary in a cage into a coal mine |
in case the air turned bad. (past routine) |
I used to carry an umbrella in my car trunk |
in case it rained. (past habit) |
independent clause– main clause, matrix clause; subord cls – dependent clause – subordinate clause
If & In Case
Clause Order and Punctuation
Clause Order – commas
| INITIAL POSITION | |
|---|---|
|
|
| PRECAUTION | CONDITION |
In the event (that) you need to reach me, |
carry your mobile phone. |
In case you need to reach me, |
carry your mobile phone. |
Should you need to reach me, |
carry your mobile phone. |
Use a | MID-POSITON | |
|---|---|
|
|
| CONDITION | PRECAUTION |
Carry your mobile phone |
in the event you need me. |
Carry your mobile phone |
in case you need me. |
Carry your mobile phone |
should you need me. |
Use
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
Error and Solution
| ERROR |
|---|
*Call me in case you need help. (Call me now as a precaution for needing help later – not logical) |
*Let's hide in case he comes in. |
*He has left his car keys with the neighbor in case someone needs to move his car. |
| SOLUTION |
|---|
Call me if you need help. (Call me at the moment when you need help, not before.) |
I'll keep my phone turned on in case you call and need help. (I'll turn it on as a precaution.) |
Let's hide if he comes in. (Hide at the moment when he comes in, not before.) |
He left his car keys with the neighbor in case someone needs to move his car. (Present perfect is used to focus on time: duration or recency. There is no need to focus on time. This is a simple series of events. Use past tense.) |
*Yellow highlighting indicates example of incorrect usage.
Pop-Q – "In case"
Practice 1
Planning Ahead
Complete the sentence with a precautionary action.
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback with the "check" or "check 1-10" button.
Practice 2
Precautions and alternate plans
Complete the sentence with connector that is logical.
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback with the "check" or "check 11-15" button.
alternate(Adj) – other plans, a "Plan B" used if "Plan A" fails
See If - Statements for more examples of conditional statements.