Lest usage ???

Question

He has already worried lest she _____ someone what had happenedAtoldBmight have toldChad been tellingDshould tell

Clive · Accepted Answer

First, what do you think, please?

Trangialong · Answer

I wonder B or D???. I thick lest + S (should) V-inf. Key is D but I think the correct answer is B.

Clive · Answer

He has already worried . . . is not natural wording here. It suggests that the worrying was in the past, and is not happening now.

I wouldn't say B is wrong. I prefer D.

Another option, not listed here, is . . . lest she tell . . .

AlpheccaStars · Answer

The sentence is not contemporary natural English.

It seems it is asking about English as it was hundreds of years ago.

Top answer

He has already worried lest she _____ someone what had happened
A		told
B		might have told
C		had been telling
D		should tell