In case

B1 · Intermediate
Grammar lesson
60 min

in case + the present, for being ready for something that might happen: Take a jacket in case it gets cold. In case or if? From a family's emergency bag to a packing game where you explain every choice.

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Free, no card needed. The PDF has every slide, the homework and an answer key.

in casejust in casein case it rains

What's in the lesson

1Warm-up
2In this lesson
3Reading: our emergency bagReading comprehension
4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
5Find in caseGrammar exercise
6in caseGrammar rule
7in case or if?Grammar exercise
8Say it with in caseGrammar exercise
9Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
10Say it naturallySpeaking practice
11Pack for itSpeaking practice
12About youGrammar exercise
13Wrap-up

Homework

1Homework: why?Grammar exercise
2Homework: what does it mean?Grammar exercise
3Homework: build the sentencesGrammar exercise
4Homework: what to packDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

Have you ever been without electricity or water for a day or more? What did you do?
Do you keep the receipts for things that you buy, or do you throw them out?
When you go on a trip, do you pack light, or do you pack for everything?

Grammar rule

in case

in case + present = to be ready for something that might happen

What you do now	in case + what might happen
Download a few shows	in case the flight has no movies.
We'll bring a ball	in case there's time to play.
I'll charge my phone,	just in case. (at the end, with nothing after it)

After in case: the present simple, even about the future (in case it rains tomorrow), not will.
When the whole story is in the past: in case + the past simple. He took his laptop home in case he had to work on Saturday.
The in case part usually comes second. When it comes first, use a comma: In case the flight has no movies, download a few shows.

in case or if?

	When do you do it?	Example
in case	now, before: it might happen	Put on sunscreen in case the sun comes out.
if	only when it happens	Look for some shade if the sun comes out.

Watch out

No will: not in case it will rain, but in case it rains.
No if: not in case if, just in case.
On signs, you see in case of + a noun: In case of rain, the concert will be in the gym. Not in case of it rains.
In American English, you may also hear in case used like if, at the start of a sentence: In case the meeting runs late, start dinner without me. In this lesson, in case means "to be ready".

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