Just in Case (unless / in case)

Just in Case

…just in case.

B1 · 60 minutes

Would you do it?

Task A friend asks you to look after their home for a week. Would you say yes? Choose, then say why.

1

It's a big flat in the city centre, near your work.

yes

no

it depends

2

There are two dogs, and they need

a long walk at 6 every morning.

yes

no

it depends

3

The house is in the country,

an hour from the nearest shop.

yes

no

it depends

4

There are forty plants, and some need water every day.

yes

no

it depends

5

Your friend says you can use their car.

yes

no

it depends

6

It's the same week as your birthday.

yes

no

it depends

Before you go

Task Elif is going away for a week. Her friend Tom is going to stay in her house and look after it, and her cat, Biscuit.

In pairs, write four questions Tom should ask Elif before she leaves.

1

Which of your questions is the most important? Why?

2

Elif's note

Task Read Elif's note. Which of your questions does it answer? Tick them.

Hi Tom, thank you so much for looking after the house! Here's everything you need to know.

Biscuit

She has a small tin of food at 8 am and a bowl of dry food at 6 pm. There's an extra bag under the sink in case you run out. She can go into the garden as long as she's back inside before dark. I've left the vet's number on the fridge in case Biscuit gets ill.

The house

You can use my bike as long as you lock it in the shed at night. Help yourself to anything in the fridge. Mr Novak next door at number 12 has a spare key, just in case. He goes to bed at nine, so please keep the music down after that!

Plants

Water the plants in the living room on Mondays and Thursdays. Please don't water the cactus: it's happiest when everybody forgets it.

If something goes wrong

If Biscuit gets ill, call the vet first, then me. If you lock yourself out, knock at number 12. Please don't call me unless it's an emergency: the signal on the island is terrible, and I'm trying to have a week without my phone!

Heating

The heating comes on at 7 am and 6 pm. Unless it gets really cold, leave it as it is. If it stops working, call the boiler company (the number is on the boiler). They send someone for free provided you call before 5 pm.

See you on Saturday! Elif

PS Biscuit will tell you she hasn't had her dinner. She has.

Must, can or mustn't?

Task Read the note again. Choose for each one.

1

use Elif's bike

Tom must

Tom can

Tom mustn't

2

water the cactus

Tom must

Tom can

Tom mustn't

3

feed Biscuit twice a day

Tom must

Tom can

Tom mustn't

4

call Elif because some plants look a bit dry

Tom must

Tom can

Tom mustn't

5

have something to eat from the fridge

Tom must

Tom can

Tom mustn't

6

keep the music down after nine

Tom must

Tom can

Tom mustn't

Which rule in Elif's note would be the hardest for you? Why?

Four sentences

Task Match the bold words to their meanings.

1

Please don't call me unless it's an emergency.

2

You can use my bike as long as you lock it in the shed at night.

3

I've left the vet's number on the fridge in case Biscuit gets ill.

4

If Biscuit gets ill, call the vet first, then me.

Meanings

only if

because it might happen

if … not

Before or after?

Task In pairs. Look back at the note. When does each thing happen: now, before anything happens, or only if something happens? Write the numbers in the right column.

1

The vet's number is on the fridge.

Do it now, before

anything happens

2

There's an extra bag of

cat food under the sink.

3

Someone from the

boiler company comes.

Do it only if it happens

4

Tom calls the vet.

5

Mr Novak has a spare key.

Gets or will get?

Task Look again at the note. Which is correct? Then choose the rule and complete the last line.

1

I've left the vet's number on the

fridge in case Biscuit ______ ill.

gets

will get

2

Please don't call me unless ______ an emergency.

it isn't

it's

3

You can use my bike as long as ______ it in the shed.

you'll lock

you lock

After unless, as long as and in case, for the future we use…

A. will + verb

B. the past simple

C. the present simple

Item 2: explain your answer. unless = if … __________, so we don't add another __________.

Say it

Task Listen and repeat. Then say each line to your partner.

1

unless · as long as · in case

2

Mr Novak has a spare key, just in case.

3

You can use my bike as long as you lock it.

4

Unless it gets really cold, leave it as it is.

Grammar reference

unless + present simple

as long as + present simple

in case + present simple

= if … not, except if. Please don't call me unless it's an emergency. Unless it gets really cold, leave it as it is.

= only if: this must be true, then the rest is OK. You can use my bike as long as you lock it in the shed.

= because it might happen: you do it now, before. I've left the vet's number on the fridge in case Biscuit gets ill. At the end of a sentence: …, just in case.

Future

Commas

provided (that) = as long as, more formal: They send someone for free provided you call before 5 pm.

present simple after all three, like after if: in case Biscuit gets ill (not will get).

a comma when the linker comes first: Unless it gets really cold, leave it. Usually no comma when it comes second (except …, just in case.).

CAREFUL

Take an umbrella in case it rains = take it now, before. Take an umbrella if it rains = only when it's raining. No not after unless for "if not": unless it's an emergency, not unless it isn't. On signs, In case of fire means "if there is a fire".

In case or if?

Task Choose in case or if. Only one fits each time.

1

Put the mouse outside __________ Biscuit brings one into the kitchen.

in case

if

2

Tom I've packed an extra jumper __________ it gets cold.

in case

if

3

Mr Novak I always keep a torch by my bed __________ there's a power cut.

in case

if

4

__________ the boiler makes a strange noise, turn it off and call the boiler company.

in case

if

5

Tom I've written Elif's flight time on the calendar __________ I forget it.

in case

if

Which one fits?

Task Tom's week at Elif's house. Choose the word that fits. Only one fits each time.

1

Tom can invite a friend for dinner __________ the music stops at nine.

unless

as long as

in case

2

Tom I've put Mr Novak's number in my phone __________ I lock myself out.

unless

as long as

in case

3

Tom I won't water the cactus __________ Elif tells me to.

unless

as long as

in case

Mr Novak Come and get the spare key any time, __________ it's after nine in the evening. I'm asleep by then!

4

unless

as long as

in case

5

Tom I've taken a photo of the boiler instructions __________ the heating stops.

unless

as long as

in case

6

Mr Novak You can borrow my ladder __________ you bring it back the same day.

unless

as long as

in case

Say it another way

Task Complete the second sentence so it means the same as the first. Use the word in capitals.

1

Elif: You can use the barbecue, but only if you clean it afterwards.

AS LONG AS

You can use the barbecue __________ it afterwards.

2

Tom has charged his power bank. His phone might die on the long journey home.

IN CASE

Tom has charged his power bank __________ on the long journey home.

3

Mr Novak waters his garden every evening, except when it rains.

UNLESS

Mr Novak waters his garden every evening __________.

4

Take a torch. The light in the shed might not work.

IN CASE

Take a torch __________ in the shed doesn't work.

5

Tom can sleep late on Sunday, but only if he feeds Biscuit first.

AS LONG AS

Tom can sleep late on Sunday __________ Biscuit first.

6

Biscuit won't come inside if you don't shake her box of treats.

UNLESS

Biscuit won't come inside __________ her box of treats.

House rules

Task In pairs. Choose: A you're swapping homes with your partner for a week, or B you each lend the other something expensive: a car, a camera or a laptop.

On your own, write two rules for your partner (one with unless, one with as long as) and one thing you'll leave or do for them in case something goes wrong (I'll leave… in case… / Take… in case…).

1

Take turns to say your rules. Your partner can agree, say no, or change the condition. Agree on five rules you're both happy with.

2

3

Tell the class your strictest rule. Would the class accept it?

Homework

Task A Tom writes to Elif in the middle of the week. Four sentences have a mistake. Find and correct them.

Hi Elif! Everything's fine here, so don't worry. I won't call you unless there isn't an emergency. I've bought more cat food in case Biscuit will finish the bag. Mr Novak says I can use his lawnmower as long as I'll bring it back before dark. In case the heating stops, I'll call the boiler company. I've also put the vet's number in my phone, just in case. See you on Saturday! Tom

Task B Write a message (80–120 words) to a colleague who's doing your job for a week while you're on holiday. Use unless, as long as and in case at least once each, and one if for what to do when something goes wrong.

TEACHER'S REFERENCE · SKIP OR DELETE BEFORE CLASS

Answer key (1)

MUST, CAN OR MUSTN'T?

1 Tom can (as long as he locks it in the shed at night)

2 Tom mustn't

3 Tom must

4 Tom mustn't (only in an emergency, and dry plants aren't one)

5 Tom can

6 Tom must

BEFORE OR AFTER?

Do it now, before anything happens 1, 2, 5 (the note uses in case / just in case)

Do it only if it happens 3, 4 (the note uses if)

GETS OR WILL GET?

Which is correct? 1 gets; 2 it's; 3 you lock

The rule C: the present simple

Item 2 unless = if … not, so we don't add another not.

IN CASE OR IF?

1 if (put it outside only when it happens)

2 in case (already packed)

3 in case (the torch is there all the time, before anything happens)

4 If (turn it off only when it happens)

5 in case (already written)

FOUR SENTENCES

unless if … not

as long as only if

in case because it might happen

TEACHER'S REFERENCE · SKIP OR DELETE BEFORE CLASS

Answer key (2)

WHICH ONE FITS?

1 as long as (the only condition: no music after nine)

2 in case (he's done it already, before anything happens)

3 unless (the one exception: he'll water it only if Elif asks)

4 unless (any time except after nine: he's asleep then)

5 in case (he's done it already)

6 as long as (the only condition)

SAY IT ANOTHER WAY (CONT.)

3 unless it rains (unless it's raining is also correct)

4 in case the light

5 as long as he feeds (as long as he's fed is also correct)

6 unless you shake

HOMEWORK (A)

Fixes I won't call you unless there's an emergency (or: if there isn't an emergency); in case Biscuit finishes the bag; as long as I bring it back; If the heating stops, I'll call the boiler company.

Already right Everything's fine here, so don't worry; I've also put the vet's number in my phone, just in case.

SAY IT ANOTHER WAY

1 as long as you clean

2 in case his phone dies