If and In Case (English conditionals)

You shouldn't put the knives in that way. It'll be all right.

Someone will cut themselves if you put them in like that. No they won't. Ow!

Luckily I put some plasters here in case there was an accident. Thank you.

We use 'if' and 'in case' to talk about future possibilities. But they mean different things.

Are we driving to New York tomorrow? I don't know. We might have to.

We need to fill the car with petrol if we do. We can do that in the morning. OK.

Are we driving to New York tomorrow? I don't know. We might have to.

I'll fill the car with petrol now, in case we do. See you later.

'If' is about things we'll do later, if something else happens.

'In case' is about things we do now, so we're ready for something that might happen in the

future. So 'in case' is useful for talking about precautions,

when we try to avoid problems in the future. Ow! Luckily, I put some plasters here in case

there was an accident. Oh! Are you going out? Yeah. Take your phone

in case I need to call you. OK. Err, and take your keys. Just in case I'm

not here when you get back. OK. And take your unbrella, just in case it should

rain. I'm only going next door. Oh! Notice the forms we use: simple present, simple

past, and 'should'. But we don't use 'will' and we don't use 'would'.

These phrases are wrong. Why not write that down, just in case you

forget? This is my wife's idea, and I must say I think

it's rather dangerous. I suppose you all know how to use one of these

things, but in case you don't, You just press down on this lever with your

thumb and then pull the trigger.