What is case? Pronunciation and usage in English

case means . Learn how to pronounce and use case through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of case

casenoun

/keɪs/
Definition & pronunciation of case

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "case" in English. It's a tricky one because it's often mispronounced! Here's a breakdown:

The Correct Pronunciation (American English):

  • ˈkeɪs (Stress on the first syllable)

Let's break that down further:

  • ˈk - Sounds like "k" – a short, sharp sound.
  • æ - This is the tricky part! This is the "short a" sound, like in the word "cat." Think of it as a quick, almost swallowed "a" sound. It's not like the "a" in "cake."
  • s - Sounds like "s" – a simple, clear "s" sound.

Putting it together: "KAYSS" (with that quick "ay" sound in the middle)

The Correct Pronunciation (British English):

  • keɪs (stress on the first syllable) - Similar to American English, with the same breakdown of sounds.

Common Mispronunciations & Why They're Wrong:

  • "Caise": Dropping the "a" sound entirely is very common, but incorrect.
  • "Keys": Adding an "e" sound at the beginning is also a frequent mistake.
  • "Kase": This is a common variation, and while understandable, it's not the standard pronunciation.

Resources to Help You Hear It:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Which English accent are you trying to emulate? (American, British, Australian, etc.)

Usage and examples with the word case in English

Let's break down how to use the word "case" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with many different meanings! Here's a breakdown, categorized for clarity:

1. As a Container/Covering:

  • Physical Cases: This is the most common understanding.
    • "I need a case for my phone.” (a protective container)
    • "He carried his laptop in a black case."
    • "The jewelry was stored in a velvet case."
    • "A hard case vs. a soft case" (describing material)
  • Medical Cases:
    • "The doctor examined the patient's case." (a patient's medical history and symptoms)
    • "This is a complex case of pneumonia."

2. As a Situation/Incident/Matter:

  • General Situation:
    • "There's a strong case for investing in renewable energy.” (a good reason or argument)
    • "He has a case against his former employer.” (a legal claim)
    • "It's a difficult case to solve.” (a complex problem)
  • Legal Cases: (Very common)
    • "The lawyer presented a strong case to the jury.”
    • “The case went to trial.” (The legal proceedings)
    • “This is an open case.” (Not yet resolved)
  • Specific Incidents:
    • "I heard about a robbery case last night."
    • "There was a case of mistaken identity."

3. As a Verb (to present a case):

  • To argue or present evidence:
    • "He tried to case his innocence to the police." (to argue he is innocent)
    • "The lawyer will case her argument tomorrow." (to present her argument)

4. As a Verb (to form a case - grammar):

  • "Please case the nouns in this sentence." (To add a case to a noun, indicating its function in a sentence - e.g., adding an ‘s’ for plural) - This is more formal and often used in grammar lessons.

5. Less Common Uses:

  • A Case of…: (Referring to a quantity or amount)
    • "I need a case of soda.” (a dozen bottles)
    • "It was a case of mistaken identity." (a misunderstanding)
  • Case Study: (A detailed examination of a particular situation) "The company conducted a case study of their marketing campaign."

Here’s a table summarizing the different meanings:

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Noun Container/Covering "She packed her books in a tote case."
Noun Situation/Incident/Matter “There's a strong case for change.”
Noun Legal Case "He's involved in a fraud case."
Noun Quantity (e.g., a case of beer) "I bought a case of sparkling water."
Verb To argue/present evidence "He presented his case to the board."
Verb (Grammar) To form a case (grammar) "Case the verbs in the sentence."

Tips for Using "Case":

  • Context is key: Pay attention to the surrounding words to understand which meaning is intended.
  • Synonyms: Consider using synonyms like “situation,” “matter,” “instance,” “argument,” or “container” depending on the correct meaning.

Could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to do with the word "case"? (e.g., are you writing a story, studying grammar, or just want to learn more about its uses?)
  • Is there a specific sentence you’re struggling with where you want to use "case"? Providing an example will help me give you more targeted advice.

Synonyms for the word case

Idioms of the word case

as the case may be
used to say that one of two or more possibilities is true, but which one is true depends on the circumstances
  • There may be an announcement about this tomorrow—or not, as the case may be.
be on somebody’s case
(informal)to criticize somebody all the time
  • She's always on my case about cleaning my room.
be on the case
to be dealing with a particular matter, especially a criminal investigation
  • We have two agents on the case.
a case in point
a clear example of the problem, situation, etc. that is being discussed
  • Many professions feel they deserve higher pay, and nurses are a case in point.
(a case of) dog eat dog
a situation in business, politics, etc. where there is a lot of competition and people are willing to harm each other in order to succeed
  • I'm afraid in this line of work it's a case of dog eat dog.
  • We're operating in a dog-eat-dog world.
get off my case
(informal)used to tell somebody to stop criticizing you
    in any case
    whatever happens or may have happened
    • There's no point complaining now—we're leaving tomorrow in any case.
    (just) in case (…)
    because of the possibility of something happening
    • You'd better take the keys in case I'm out.
    • You probably won't need to call—but take my number, just in case.
    • In case (= if it is true that) you’re wondering why Jo’s here—let me explain…
    in case of something
    if something happens
    • In case of fire, ring the alarm bell.
    in that case
    if that happens or has happened; if that is the situation
    • ‘I’ve made up my mind.’ ‘In that case, there’s no point discussing it.’
    rest your case
    (sometimes humorous)used to say that you do not need to say any more about something because you think that you have proved your point
      (law)used by lawyers in court to say that they have finished presenting their case
      • The prosecution rests its case.

      Practice with vocabulary case

      Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

      1. In this ____, we need to consider all possible outcomes before making a decision.
      2. She always carries an umbrella just in ____ it rains unexpectedly.
      3. The police are investigating the ____ of the missing documents.
      4. If you’re feeling unwell, it’s best to rest and take care of yourself.

      Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

      1. Which word best fits the sentence: "The detective examined the ____ carefully to find clues."
        a) case
        b) scenario
        c) example
        d) situation

      2. In formal writing, which term is appropriate for describing a specific instance?
        a) case
        b) situation
        c) event
        d) context

      3. Which word can replace "situation" in this sentence: "In this ____, we must act quickly."
        a) case
        b) scenario
        c) circumstance
        d) problem

      4. Which word is not suitable in this sentence: "The lawyer presented a strong ____ to the jury."
        a) argument
        b) case
        c) evidence
        d) situation

      5. Which word fits the sentence: "This is a rare ____ that requires special attention."
        a) occasion
        b) instance
        c) case
        d) event

      Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

      1. Original: The situation is more complicated than we initially thought.
        Rewrite: The ____ is more complicated than we initially thought.

      2. Original: If it rains, we’ll have to cancel the outdoor event.
        Rewrite: In ____ of rain, we’ll have to cancel the outdoor event.

      3. Original: The manager reviewed the scenario and made a decision.
        Rewrite: The manager reviewed the ____ and made a decision.

      Answer:

      Exercise 1:

      1. case
      2. case
      3. case
      4. No specific answer (sentence does not require "case").

      Exercise 2:

      1. a) case
      2. a) case
      3. a) case
      4. d) situation
      5. b) instance

      Exercise 3:

      1. The case is more complicated than we initially thought.
      2. In case of rain, we’ll have to cancel the outdoor event.
      3. The manager reviewed the case and made a decision.

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