Au cas où + conditional mood

John W.C1Kwiziq community member

Au cas où + conditional mood

J'en ai racheté, juste au cas où - le conditionnel n'est pas employé ici: pourquoi pas?  C'est le passé composé Parceque c'est un action dejà completé?  Si on dit par exemple "Au cas où, j'en racheterais - c'est juste ou non?
Asked 11 months ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

John, it is the clause that is unstated in this example, the clause that explains ‘in case of (x happening)’,  that would be in the conditional. 

This sentence could, for example be completed as ‘J’en ai racheté, juste au cas où j’en aurais besoin’. 

From the lesson :

The delicate point here is the question of the mood following (bolding of the word ‘following’ added by me) au cas où. Indeed, as it expresses an uncertain state or an hypothesis, you could be tempted to use Le SubjonctifThat would be a mistake!

With the expression (juste) au cas où, you can only use Le Conditionnel.
Susan B.C1Kwiziq community member

Yes, I think that you are correct! If "au cas où" is followed by a verb, the verb would be conditional.  But if "au cas où" directly follows a conjugated verb, the verb preceding it is not in the conditional.

Au cas où + conditional mood

J'en ai racheté, juste au cas où - le conditionnel n'est pas employé ici: pourquoi pas?  C'est le passé composé Parceque c'est un action dejà completé?  Si on dit par exemple "Au cas où, j'en racheterais - c'est juste ou non?

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