JarekSteliga
Member
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2011
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- Polish
- Home Country
- Poland
- Current Location
- Poland
[not a teacher]
This topic was discussed (hotly) back in 2009 in this forum. However the discussion terminated in two gentlemen (mostly contributing to that particular thread) agreeing to disagree. This falls far short of my expectations of what this forum is for. :-(
I see eye to eye with Svartnik who explained that
'Take an umbrella in case it rains" means roughly the same as "Take an umbrella whatever the weather is at the time of your departure, against the possibility that it may rain later on'
and
'Take an umbrella in case of rain" means roughly the same as "Take an umbrella only if it actually rains at the time of your departure'
In other words
'in case something happens' means 'against the possibility of something happening' (precaution)
'in case of something' means 'if something happens' (condition)
Is this view on things correct?
This topic was discussed (hotly) back in 2009 in this forum. However the discussion terminated in two gentlemen (mostly contributing to that particular thread) agreeing to disagree. This falls far short of my expectations of what this forum is for. :-(
I see eye to eye with Svartnik who explained that
'Take an umbrella in case it rains" means roughly the same as "Take an umbrella whatever the weather is at the time of your departure, against the possibility that it may rain later on'
and
'Take an umbrella in case of rain" means roughly the same as "Take an umbrella only if it actually rains at the time of your departure'
In other words
'in case something happens' means 'against the possibility of something happening' (precaution)
'in case of something' means 'if something happens' (condition)
Is this view on things correct?