〜場合は

About

〜場合ばあいは, combines the noun 「場合ばあい」("event; situation; case") with the は particle to mark a particular event/situation/case as the topic of conversation. In translation, 〜場合ばあいは often appears as "In the event of..." or sometimes "When...". 〜場合ばあいは is a formal, stiff expression, and is therefore not commonly used in casual speech.

〜場合ばあいは may be proceeded by a casual form verb or い-adjective, a noun with の attached, or a な-adjective with な attached.

〜場合ばあいは is most commonly used when giving formal explanations, on written instructions, and when discussing procedures in a formal setting.

The final は in 〜場合ばあいは is often omitted.

In casual situations, 〜場合ばあいは may be substituted for 〜ときは. They also may be used in tandem, in which case 〜場合ばあいは comes first and describes the more important, or main "event" while 〜とき describes the less important "event".

Summary

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  〜場合ばあいは is a formal expression meaning "In the event of...".

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  Casual form verbs and い-adjectives may directly proceed 〜場合ばあいは, while nouns require の attached, and な-adjectives require な.

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  〜場合ばあいは is most commonly used in formal explanations, on written instructions, or when discussing procedures in a formal setting.

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  〜場合ばあいは may be substituted for 〜ときは in less formal situations, and they may also occasionally be used in tandem.