minimal pairs..

[elisa_noe]

Hi everybody,
for an english exam at the university i had to analyse the socalled minimal pairs and explain the difference of the two sentences given. I had problems in the exam in this particular pair:

a. foreign nationals are advised to record with their embrassy if there is any sign of political unrest
b. foreign nationals are advised to record with their embrassy in case there is any sign of political unrest

Could you please help me to understand the difference?
Thank you very much,
Elisa

[Raymott]

Hi everybody,
for an english exam at the university i had to analyse the socalled minimal pairs and explain the difference of the two sentences given. I had problems in the exam in this particular pair:

a. foreign nationals are advised to record with their embrassy if there is any sign of political unrest
b. foreign nationals are advised to record with their embrassy in case there is any sign of political unrest

Could you please help me to understand the difference?
Thank you very much,
Elisa

In a. tourists only need to contact the embassy if there is unrest.
In b. they must all contact the embassy. (in case = nel caso che, caso mai)

[elisa_noe]

That is to say in a. only if there are effectively signs of politic unrest while in b. in case= in order to avoid political unrest?
Sorry...

[Raymott]

That is to say in a. only if there are effectively signs of politic unrest while in b. in case= in order to avoid political unrest?
Sorry...

Yes. a. if = only if. That is, you have to wait until unrest occurs before you give you details to the embassy.
b. in any case. Not in order to avoid unrest; but so that the embassy has contact details in the event that unrest occurs. in case = so that they already have it in the unlikely case that unrest might occur.
Hope that's clearer.

[elisa_noe]

that is absolutly PERFECT!!!thank you very much finally i understood and now I don't know if I wrote it correctly or not...
my suggestion was:
a. they have to record only if there are signs of unrest
b. is the reason why they have to record.
So maybe what i wrote is not completely wrong...
thank yoou very much I could'nt have understood it but for you explanation!!