Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[klafterreith]

I will bring in the washing if it rains / in case it rains /provided it rains /
as long as it rains.



Are they all acceptable?

[lotus]

Hi klafterreith,

Try this:

I will bring in the wash if it rains.

"Provided it rains" and "as long as it rains" are not acceptable because they suppose that it "will" rain, not "if" it will rain.

"In case it rains" is correct but is saying something else. It is usually a predicted bad circumstance associated with a pre-emptive preventative measure:

I'm bringing in the wash now in case it rains. (now)

That is different than:

I will bring in the wash if it rains. (later)



--lotus
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[peterteacher]

They have different meanings.

I will bring in the washing if it rains = You bring the washing in AT THE SAME TIME as it starts raining.

I will bring in the washing in case it rains = You bring the washing in BEFORE it rains.


However, these two have the same meaning:

I will bring in the washing provided it rains/as long as it rains = If it doesn't rain you will NEVER bring in the washing.
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