Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

In case, in case of 

In case

has a meaning of because x might be/happen or because there is a risk of x:

I’ll take these shoes with me 

in case it rains. 

(I will take the shoes whether it rains or not, because there is a risk of rain)

(compare: ‘I’ll take these shoes with me if it rains.’ i.e. ‘I will not take the shoes

if it does not rain.’)

In case

is frequently premodified by just, indicating that the speaker thinks the

outcome is unlikely:

I’ll give you the address to give Paul,

just in case you bump into him.

In case 

may, in very formal and literary contexts, be followed by the subjunctive

form were to (

Û

159e

):

Urquhart had taken the precaution of taking down the details from Simon’s

driving licence, just 

in case he were to continue to cause trouble and needed to

be tracked down. 

(more typical: … just in case he continued to cause trouble …)

754 | Condition

Cambridge Grammar of English

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The phrase in case of + noun phrase carries a slightly different conditional

meaning. It has negative connotations and is used for real conditions in formal

contexts such as warning notices:

In case of fire, do not use the lift. 

(Only if/when there is a fire …)

✪

In case of 

is not used with an -ing form:

In case of a breakdown, call this number.

(In case of breaking down, call this number.)

Lest

Lest

is used in very formal and literary contexts, and is a formal alternative to in

case

. It is used to indicate that an action is done in order to prevent a possible

negative outcome. It is followed by should or, even more formally, by a

subjunctive form (

Û

159e

):

She threw on a jacket and walked quickly out, head down into her collar, 

lest

anyone 

should later be able to recognise her.

Lest she appear over-familiar, she nodded and turned away. 

What if …?

What if …?

is used to imagine unreal situations and to pose questions about their

possible outcomes:

What if she doesn’t turn up? What shall we do?

A: What if we’d waited and left later? We’d have missed the flight with all that

traffic.

B: Yes, you’re right.