student asking question

What does "in case" mean here?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"In case" means a precaution taken against something bad happening, such as an unforeseeable event. Your question is also correct. Saying "If someone's trying to steal..." is more formal than saying "in case someone is trying to steal..." If you are concerned which one to use, either one is perfectly fine to use as English doesn't really focus on the formality. Here are examples of "in case" being used. Ex: I like to have extra clothes just in case. Ex: She keeps a shovel in her car in case she gets stuck in the winter. Ex: We always bring food on road trips in case we can't find a place to eat.

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