一、case 表示“理由”

case for + -ing 表示“做某事的理由”；make one's case 表示“陈述理由、申辩”。

✔ With the case for supporting African countries so compelling, it may come as a surprise that...
   既然向非洲国家提供支持的理由如此有力，那么，…一事就可能使人感到惊讶。

✔ He made a strong case for peaceful settlement.
   他申述了和平解决的有力理由。

✔ The lawyer made a compelling case that the defendant is innocent of all the allegations.
   律师申述了强有力的理由，说明被告清白，所有指控都不成立。

✔ He tried to plead his case that he is over 18.
   他力图申辩，说他已经年满十八岁了。

✔ Washington has a “moral case” for removing Saddam.
   华盛顿要干掉萨达姆，是有一个“道义上的理由”的。

二、in case ≠ if：“以防”“预防”而不是“如果”

in case + 从句 不是“如果”，而是“以防万一”、“为了预防未来可能发生的事”。注意别误用！

✔ Make a note in case you forget.
   记下来，以免忘掉。

✔ I took an umbrella this morning in case it rains today.
   我早上带了雨伞，准备今天下雨。

✔ I've got the key in case we want to go inside.
   我带来了钥匙，万一我们想进去。

✔ Business travelers must be prepared in case a ban on all carry-on luggage is imposed.
   商务旅客要准备万一国内航班也突然禁止所有手提行李。

✔ She drew herself up, but not too severely, in case she might freeze the poor man into silence.
   她绷起了脸，但绷得不很紧，唯恐这个可怜人被吓得说不出话来。

✔ ...standing by in case a president dies or becomes incapacitated.
   …随时待命，以防总统去世或失去工作能力。

三、in case / just in case 作为副词短语

(just) in case 可单独使用，意为“以防万一”、“有备无患”。

✔ She ought to be there in case.
   她应该在那里，以备不时之需。

✔ I like to take some woollens just in case.
   我喜欢随身带点毛衣，以防天气变冷。

✔ ...just in case there isn't enough natural sunlight to show off the artwork.
   以防阳光不足时无法展示艺术品。

四、in case of = 如果发生（与 in case 不同！）

in case of + 名词 表示“如果发生…”，相当于“in the event of”。这是应急指令常用句型。

✔ Do you know what to do in case of fire?
   你知道遇到火灾该怎么办吗？

五、in the case of = 就…而言

in the case of + 名词 表示“就…而言”、“关于…”。

✔ In the case of cancer or heart disease, the only person who gets hurt is the one who didn’t go to the doctor in time.
   就癌症或心脏病而言，唯一真正吃亏的人就是没及时就医的人。

✔ In the case of the Hollywood writers, some took their case to court.
   就好莱坞编剧来说，有些人把案子告上了法庭。

六、the case = true（属实）

当你第一次提到一个情况，the case 可理解为“事情是如此”，类似于 is true。

✔ That is the case.
   那是事实。

✔ Can we assume that this is in fact the case?
   我们能假定事情确实如此吗？

✔ How can you know what he said was the case?
   你怎么知道他说的是真的呢？

✔ This has been true (*the case) since time immemorial.
   注意：这里不能用 the case，因为句子谈的是“自古以来的一般情况”，适用 true 而不是 the case。

总结：

• case for doing sth 表示“做某事的理由”。

• make/plead one's case 表示“陈述理由、为自己辩护”。

• in case + 句子 表示“以防…”，不要误解为 if。

• just in case 可以单独使用，表示“以备不时之需”。

• in case of + 名词 表示“如果发生…”，用于应急情境。

• in the case of + 名词 表示“就…而言”。

• the case 表示“属实”，相当于 true，适用于具体情况。