Question

Fill in the correct word keeping in mind the lest-should condition:

They'll have to be on time, lest the train should ___________.

• A. arrive
• B. come
• C. depart
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

depart

"Lest" is used to mean "for fear that" or "in order to avoid" and is usually followed by the situation that should be avoided.

Option C is correct. The train's departure is a situation the subject is trying to avoid. If they are not on time, they will obviously miss the train. Moreover, it is followed by the present tense of the verb, i.e., should + verb (bare form of the infinitive) Thus it is correct.

Option A is incorrect. The train's arrival is not a situation that the subject is trying to avoid. It defeats the purpose of using "lest" and is thus incorrect.

Option B is incorrect for the same reason as A. It is not a situation that the subject is trying to avoid.

Option D is incorrect since the answer is option C.