Don't use the elevator in case of emergency / en caso
I'm trying to understand the difference between "In case" in English and "en caso" in Spanish.
What does the title suggest to you?
To me it says "If you use this elevator, there will be an emergency." So I think it's a mistake. ( But of course in a context like that it would be clear to everyone what it meant )
"In case of emergency please do not use elevator" Would mean "In the event of" And it seems that in Spanish en caso only has that meaning.
So
I bring my umbrella in case it rains. Means I bring my umbrella because it might rain. (it's not raining)
but
Traigo mi paraguas en caso lluvia.
Means When it rains I bring my umbrella. / I bring my umbrella in the event of rain.
Am I right about this? So how do you say the other meaning of "in case" in Spanish? "Por si?"
4 Answers
For "I bring my umbrella in case it rains," Marianne's is correct, except that por si (acaso) follows a subjunctive, hence llueva.
I'm going to disagree link
I would say:
No usar el ascensor en caso de emergencia. (The infinitive is usually the one that's used for notices/instructions you see in public.)
or
En caso de emergencia, no usen el ascensor. (Uses ustedes for courtesy.)
PD: It is "traigo," not trago. You don't want to swallow (tragar) your umbrella, do you?
To me it says "If you use this elevator, there will be an emergency."
The phrase "in case of" hase two meanings in English:
in the event of
as a precaution against
So the sentence could mean:"Don't use this elevator in order to prevent an emergency." It doesn't mean that there definitely will be one if you do.
You can construct Spanish sentences using "en caso de" having both meanings, although the first meaning is more common. You might also want to look at "acaso".
Yes, "por si" is one of the ways of expressing the second meaning.
I would say:
"Llevo mi paraguas por si acaso llueve." (meaning "just in case" it rains)
"En caso de emergencia no se usa el acensor." (meaning "in the event of" an emergency)
