The tense agreement in the clause ' in case '
A native English teacher says the present tense always comes after the clause' in case'. She gives an exam sentence as follow:
I took my umbrella in case it rains.
Ahthough she is talking about the past, why does she use the present verb in clause ' in case'?
Is her sentence correct?
Again, Longman Dictionary says that we should use the simple past tense when were are talking about the past. It gives an example as follow:
I took my umbrella in case it rained.
Which one is correct? If both are correct, what is the meaning of each and when do we use each?
Top answer
piano aqua 384 I took my umbrella in case it rains. You took your umbrella earlier and you have it with you now because it may rain later. When you say this, you are still thinking it might rain.
- piano aqua 384 I took my umbrella in case it rains.
- You took your umbrella earlier and you have it with you now because it may rain later.
- When you say this, you are still thinking it might rain.
- You haven't used your umbrella yet, but you may have to use it later.
- piano aqua 384 I took my umbrella in case it rained.
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piano aqua 384I took my umbrella in case it rains.
You took your umbrella earlier and you have it with you now because it may rain later. When you say this, you are still thinking it might rain. You haven't used your umbrella yet, but you may have to use it later.
piano aqua 384I took my umbrella in case it rained.
0piano aqua 384A native English teacher says the present tense always comes after the clause' in case'.
She is wrong.
piano aqua 384I took my umbrella in case it rains.
That doesn't work in British English, though 'I brought my umbrella in case it rains' does.
0
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