IN CASE (which tense to use?)

Question

Hello,When using "just in case" does the first clause have to be in the same tense as the second?I ran just in case the train was pulling in.I'm running just in case the train pulls in.I ran just in case the train pulled in.I was running just in case the train was pulling in.Thank you

AFE · Accepted Answer

Yes and no :-)

The "aspect" doesn't have to be the same i.e. -ing. Actually, you can use just about any combination EXCEPT you CAN'T use "in case + will" (as far as I know).

English conditional sentences are very "free", and you can do almost anything with them. Also, most frequently "just in case" occurs at the end of a sentence (when spoken by native speakers). For example:

I was running, just in case.

Hope that very short answer helps :-)

Nick

Doctor D · Answer

Yes, you want the tenses to match. But I would use the progressive tense because I think you are talking about an action that is continuing (the train is pulling in rather than the train has pulled in and is now at a stop).

I ran just in case the train was pulling in.

I'm running just in case the train pulls in.
I'm running just in case the train is pulling in.

I ran just in case the train pulled in.
I ran just in case the train was pulling in.

I was running just in case the train was pulling in.

Alc24 · Answer

Thank you

In your examples, the tenses don't match though

the first bit is in the simple tense the second part in the progressive right?

Thank you

AFE · Answer

If you are studying "in case", then I presume you are at advanced level. In which case, you should be told that the tenses do not need to match. Some examples:

I ran to the station in case the train pulls in early.

I'm running really fast to the station in case the train pulled in early for once. You never know!

Look at the time! Oh no! OK, I'll run to the station in case the train has pulled in early.

These examples should hopefully show you that it's not about "tense", but about SITUATION and RESULT, like in any other conditional sentence with "if".

Regarding the definition of "tense":

I ran and I am running have the same "tense", but they have different "aspect". "aspect" is how a speaker views the action, as either "simple, progressive / continuous, and/or perfect". The "aspect" can be past, present, or future "tense". Some examples:

I'm running to the bus stop in case the train pulls in early.
both parts of this sentence are PRESENT tense, the first PRESENT CONTINUOUS, the second PRESENT SIMPLE

I'm running to the bus stop in case the train has pulled in.
Both parts of this sentence are PRESENT tense too. The second is PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE.

Finally, a spoken example:

Yesterday, I was really tired at work because in the morning I'd run to the station, you know, just in case the train pulls in early.

Here, the RESULT (I had run) is before the SITUATION (train pulls in). This is used because when telling a story, often speakers talk about "response" in the past, and "initiation" (the thing that causes the response) in the present. Hence the example above is used.

Again, conditional sentences are very free, and the spoken context is more important than the grammar "rule for ESL students".

IN CASE (which tense to use?)

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions