場合は、doesn't seem much of a conditional grammar structure to me but in class we
learnt this form alongside たら、なら、と＆ば。 How does 場合は、compare to these structures
and how do you correctly use it? (as in contextually not how to conjugate)

Thank you!
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question
grammar conditionals
Is 場合は considered a conditional form? (and how do you correctly use it?)
It is **often** used in conditional/hypothetical constructs.

> 「 **（もし） Phrase/Mini-Sentence A + 場合（に）は + Phrase/Mini-Sentence B** 」

would be the usual pattern with 「もし」 and 「に」 being optional. It means:

> " ** _If/In case A, then B_**."

「場合{ばあい}は」, thus, is used just like 「たら」 and 「れば」

Examples:

「（もし）雨{あめ}が降{ふ}った場合（に）は、ピクニックは中止{ちゅうし}となります。」 = "If it rains, the picnic will
be canceled."

「（もし）サンドイッチがなかった場合（に）は、おにぎりを買{か}ってきて。」 = "If they have no sandwiches (left),
please get some rice balls."
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～場合 means "in case" or "if". It's a relatively stiff expression and is used
more often in written formal documents, polite business conversations and
such.

～場合 looks like a form of a verb, but it's normally not called a "form". 場合 is
a _noun_ which is usually translated into English without using a noun. The
preceding verb modifies 場合 as a relative clause. That's why 場合 can also be
modified by attributive/adjectival expressions (e.g., その場合 = "in that case
...", 多くの場合 = "in many cases ...", 作戦Aの場合 = "in case we choose strategy
A...").

English also has some nouns that work like conjunctives, for example:

> _The moment_ she was alone she opened the letter.  
>  （彼女は）1人になるとすぐ手紙を開いた。

Other similar examples in Japanese include ～時 ("when ～"), ～とたん ("as soon as
～"), ～ところ ("upon ～"). These are special nouns, not part of a form.
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answer