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Difficulty: MediumConjunctions and Clause Structure

Complete the sentence below by supplying the correct subordinating conjunction that introduces the negative purpose clause.

Answer:The security officers monitored the perimeter around the clock 【lest】 any intruder should breach the fence unnoticed.

Answer

lest
The subordinating conjunction 'lest' is used to introduce a clause expressing negative purpose or precaution (meaning 'in order to avoid the risk that' or 'for fear that'). In standard formal English, 'lest' is typically followed by the modal auxiliary 'should' or a subjunctive verb form.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relationship between the main clause and the subordinate clause.
The main clause describes a precautionary action, while the subordinate clause expresses an undesirable outcome to be prevented, marked by the modal verb 'should'.
Determining that the subordinate clause conveys a negative purpose helps identify the required subordinator.
2
Select the conjunction specifically used to introduce negative purpose clauses followed by 'should'.
The subordinating conjunction 'lest' means 'for fear that' or 'to prevent the possibility that', making it grammatically and semantically correct.
'Lest' uniquely structures clauses expressing negative purpose alongside auxiliary verbs like 'should'.

Key Concept

Subordinating Conjunctions of Negative Purpose
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Conjunctions and Clause Structure

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