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What is the role of “lest” as a conjunction, and how does it express precaution or a negative purpose? How does it indicate that something should be avoided, preventing a specific outcome, and how is it typically used in more formal or literary contexts to introduce a cautionary idea?
“Lest” is a conjunction that is used to indicate a possible event or situation in order to prevent a negative outcome. It is primarily used to express precaution or to introduce a negative purpose.
When used in a sentence, “lest” is placed before the verb and indicates the action that should be avoided. For example: “She studied hard lest she fail the exam.”
This conjunction is commonly found in formal or literary contexts where authors or speakers want to emphasize caution or warn about potential consequences. It is often used in more formal writing, speeches, and works of literature to convey a sense of urgency or importance regarding what should be avoided.
In summary, “lest” functions as a conjunction that serves to signal a potential negative outcome and the action necessary to prevent it, adding a layer of warning or precaution to the sentence in which it is used.