Precautions with "por si"
To say you are doing something "in case" a specific situation happens, use the phrase por si followed by a verb in the present indicative tense. Por si is always followed by the present tense, even if the main action is a command or in the future tense.
| Take this handkerchief in case you cry at the wedding. | Coge este pañuelo por si lloras en la boda. |
| Put that pin in the bouquet in case it is windy. | Pon aquel alfiler en el ramo por si hace viento. |
| The groom's sponsor will call the priest in case he arrives late. | La madrina llamará al cura por si llega tarde. |
"Just in case" with "por si acaso"
If the possible situation is already understood from context, you do not need to add a verb. Instead, simply use por si acaso (just in case).
| The best man has the wedding rings just in case. | El padrino tiene las alianzas por si acaso. |
| I will put the bouquet in the water just in case. | Pondré el ramo en el agua por si acaso. |
In a past story
In a story told in the indefinido, the verb after por si usually moves to the imperfect: Cogí el paraguas *por si llovía. (I took the umbrella in case it rained.) After the perfecto, while the thing can still happen, the present stays: He cogido el paraguas **por si llueve.*
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