Lest.....should

Hi Debpriya,

The word 'lest' is somewhat outdated for contemporary writing unless you are composing fiction that takes place in the 1700s.

If you want to use the word, I would say "I held her hand lest she fall." It would be awkward and unnecessary to say lest she should fall.

You could say "I am holding her hand in case she should fall." But i think a better w

Thanks for your help TrysB and welcome to the forums, but the thing is the lest...should construction is still part of our curriculu

Debpriya De" I held her hand lest she should fall."
Can we use the lest...should construction in the present and future tenses as given below ?

" I am holding her hand lest she should fall."

" I shall hold her hand lest she should fall."

The tense doesn't make any difference.

On another topic, however, you and your

Thanks for clarifying .

I use it frequently -- often when I come home from grocery shopping, I remark (to myself, the cats or anyone else within range) "I'd better put the perishables away, lest they perish!"

NOTE to English learners -- I really do say this, but I say it as a joke. "Perish" is about as old-fashioned as "lest," although groceries that need to be refrigerated so they won't spoil are actually cal

khoffI'd better put the perishables away, lest they perish!

Ooph! I just inhaled my mashed potatoes! Snort, snort!

CJ