The phrase "was the case" is spelled with the letter "s" between "wa" and "the". This is because the sound at the end of "was" is a voiced consonant sound /z/ and the sound at the beginning of "the" is an unvoiced consonant sound /θ/. In English, it is common to add an "s" between two words when a voiced consonant sound is followed by an unvoiced consonant sound. So, the correct spelling of the phrase is "was the case" /wɒz ðə keɪs/.
"Was the case" is a phrase commonly used to refer to a situation or set of circumstances that actually occurred or existed in the past. It implies that a specific condition or fact was true, valid, or applicable during a given time period.
In essence, "was the case" indicates that a particular scenario or event took place or was valid at a specific point in the past. It is often used to emphasize the reality of a situation or to clarify a statement by providing context or background information.
For instance, if someone says, "As was the case with most businesses during the economic recession, they had to lay off several employees," it suggests that a significant number of companies had to dismiss staff members due to the economic downturn.
The phrase "was the case" can also be used to refute or correct a previous statement by presenting counter evidence or facts. For example, if a person claims, "He didn't contribute to the project," another individual may respond, "That is not true. In fact, he worked tirelessly on it, as was the case with all the team members."
In summary, "was the case" is a phrase that highlights the occurrence or existence of a particular condition or fact in the past, serving to provide clarity, emphasize truthfulness, or challenge previous assertions.