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Learn about por si/ por si acaso in Spanish
Por si and por si acaso are interchangeable. In Spanish we use "por si" or "por si acaso" to express "in case/just in case [something happens]".
They introduce a subordinate clause expressing a condition. They can be followed by the subjunctive (careful!! Not the present subjunctive) or the indicative.
Here are some examples:
With the indicative - more probable
Toma el dinero que te debo, por si acaso se me olvida después.Here is the money I owe you, in case I forget later.
With the subjunctive - less probable
Me voy a llevar el paraguas por si lloviera.I am taking the umbrella in case it rains (less probability)
Toma el dinero que te debo, por si acaso se me olvidase después.Here is the money I owe you, in case I forget later. (less probability)
There are two things to consider:
1. We use the indicative or the subjunctive depending on what degree of probability we want to express. If what is said in the conditional clause after por si/por si acaso is considered by the speaker as "fairly probable" we use the indicative, but if it is considered more hypothetical and "less probable" then we use the subjunctive.
2. The tense used in the main clause determines which tense to use in the clause after por si/por si acaso.
Future action in main clause
If the main clause uses a tense or a mood that implies a future action, for example El Imperativo or El Futuro Simple, then the por si/por si acaso clause uses El Presente (probable) or El Pretérito Imperfecto Subjuntivo (less probable)
Past action in main clause
If the main clause uses a tense that implies a past action, for example El Pretérito Indefinido or El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto, then the por si/por si acaso clause uses a past tense.
Le di el dinero que le debía por si acaso se me olvidaba después.I gave him the money I owed him just in case I forgot later.
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REMEMBER: El Presente de Subjuntivo is never used after por si/por si acaso. This would be incorrect:
- Voy a llevarme el paraguas por si llueva.
- No debes decirle nada de esto a Roberto, por si acaso te pregunte.
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