в случай че
In Case
В случай че закъснея, започнете без мен. (In case I am late, start without me.) It works like a slightly more formal ако.
How It Works
1. Meaning. В случай че covers both English uses:
- "If this happens": В случай че имате въпроси, пишете ни. (If you have any questions, write to us.)
- "As a precaution": Вземи чадър, в случай че завали. (Take an umbrella in case it rains.)
2. Tense. For a future possibility, use the present, usually of a perfective verb, just as after ако: в случай че закъснея. See the perfective present in dependent clauses.
3. With a noun. Use в случай на: в случай на пожар (in case of fire), в случай на нужда (if needed).
4. Punctuation. The official orthography treats в случай че as one compound conjunction, so there is no comma before че. A comma separates the whole clause from the main clause: Ето ключа, в случай че ме няма вкъщи. See commas before subordinate clauses.
5. Neighbours. Ако is the everyday choice. Стига да means "provided that", освен ако means "unless", and дори и да means "even if".
Examples (5)
- В случай че закъснея, започнете без мен.
In case I am late, start without me.
- Вземи чадър, в случай че завали.
Take an umbrella in case it rains.
- В случай че имате въпроси, пишете ни.
If you have any questions, write to us.
- Ето ключа, в случай че ме няма вкъщи.
Here is the key, in case I'm not at home.
- В случай на пожар използвайте стълбите.
In case of fire, use the stairs.
Before a noun, the phrase is в случай на.
Common Mistakes
Writing a comma inside the conjunction.
В случай, че закъснея, започнете без мен.В случай че закъснея, започнете без мен.В случай че is one compound conjunction, so the official norm puts no comma before че.
Using в случай на before a verb.
В случай на закъснея, започнете без мен.В случай че закъснея, започнете без мен.в случай на goes before a noun (в случай на закъснение). Before a verb, use в случай че.
How It Connects
Learn This First
In case follows real conditions.
Related Patterns
- освен акоUnless
The negative condition "unless".
Level 4 - стига даProvided That
A stricter condition: "provided that".
Level 5 - дори и даEven if
A condition that does not change the result: "even if".
Level 4 - Commas Before Subordinate Clauses
Where the comma goes around the clause.
Level 3 - The Perfective Present
Explains закъснея for a future possibility.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice в случай че in Bubblegum
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