(just) in case

a) IFas a way of being safe from something that might happen or might be true 以防万一

Take an umbrella, in case it rains.

带把伞吧，以防下雨。

He had his camera ready, just in case he saw something that would make a good picture.

他把照相机准备好，万一看到什么值得拍的就可以拍下来。

b) American EnglishAmEIF if 如果，假使

In case I’m late, start without me.

假如我来晚了，你们就别等我先开始吧。

5 GRAMMAR 语法

In case is followed by the simple present, the simple past, or ‘should’. in case 后面跟一般现在时、一般过去时或should

Write it down in case you forget (NOT 不说 in case you will forget).

写下来，免得你忘了。

They locked themselves in their houses in case there was (NOT 不说 would be) more trouble.

他们把自己锁在家里，以防还会有麻烦。

Here’s a contact number, in case there should (NOT 不说 will/would) be a problem.

万一出现什么问题，可以打这个联络电话。

n GRAMMAR: Choosing the right tense

Use the simple present tense with in case to talk about a possible future event. Don’t use ‘will’. You say:

Write it down in case you forget.

写下来，免得你忘了。

✗Don’t say: in case you will forget

Use the simple past tense with in case when talking about the past. Don’t use ‘would’. You say:

I took my umbrella in case it rained.

✗Don’t say: in case it would rain

In more formal English, you can say in case something should happen:

Here’s a contact number, in case there should be a problem.

万一出现什么问题，可以打这个联络电话。

Examples from the Corpus

(just) in case• In case you missed the last program, here's a summary of the story.• In case a dish fails to appease a customer, Steve Carrasco can always make a flying getaway.• In case you're wondering-for the hospital form-this is how you spell tetanus.• A few latecomers are nosing gloomily around in case the professionals have left anything worth having.• Deep tendon reflexes are usually diminished, but in cases with prominent lateral column disease may be hyperactive with extensor plantar reflexes.• Viral cultures during an attack will give the diagnosis in cases such as these.• They had delivered the correct total quantity of tins but half of them were packed in cases of 24 tins each.• There are spare batteries in there, in case you need them.• Not typical in cases like this.• How can an individual get permission to photocopy or videotape in cases where there is no fair use exception?

→ (just) in case at case1(1)