题目

关于虚拟语气
The mad man was put in the soft-padded cell lest he ——himself．（CET-4,98．1—38）
A）injure
B）had injured
C）injured
D）would injure
这题怎么去判断是虚拟语气呢.我觉得should 被省略了 是不是就不好判断了.那么should可以被省略是什么原因呢.

提问时间：2020-12-05

答案

lest,for fear that和in case引起的从句用虚拟语气(这时谓语多用should＋加动词原形)
We dare not play jokes on Mr.Wang lest he should become angry.(我们不敢跟王先生开玩笑,恐怕他生气.)
He hurried on,lest he should drop out in the forced match.(他加紧步伐,生怕在急行军中掉队.)
Every attention must be paid to him lest he (should) feel that he is inferior to my other guests.(我对他特别关照,唯恐他感觉到比我的其他客人低人一等.)
虚拟语气有若干种情形,有些不可以省略should,有些可以省略should（省略should多见于美语）.