Choose the most suitable option to replace the highlighted part of the sentence:
He walked slowly lest he should fall.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. lest he fall.
Sentence Analysis:
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Original Sentence: He walked slowly lest he should fall.
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Target Word: 'Lest' (a conjunction meaning 'to avoid the risk of' or 'for fear that').
Grammatical Concept: The Subjunctive Mood
The word 'lest' is unique in English grammar because it traditionally triggers the subjunctive mood. In formal or literary English, when using 'lest,' the following verb should be in its base form (the infinitive without 'to'), regardless of the subject.
Correct Sentence: He walked slowly lest he fall.
Hence, the chosen option is correct.