grammar · formal

For fear that + clause

Band 7+task2speaking

Used to express that an action is taken to avoid a possible bad outcome.

Examples

“He kept silent for fear that his words might cause trouble.”

“They delayed publication for fear that the data were incomplete.”

“For fear that the experiment would fail, they double-checked every step.”

Band 8 sentence

“For fear that public confidence might be undermined, the authorities released a detailed action plan.”

Collocations

  • for fear that + clause
  • for fear of + noun / V-ing

Common mistakes

For fear of that the experiment would fail, they postponed it.→For fear that the experiment would fail, they postponed it.

They avoided the issue for fear it will upset people.→They avoided the issue for fear it might upset people.

Say it for a higher band

5In case→6For fear of + noun/V-ing→7+For fear that + clause

Synonyms

Lest

Easily confused

In case

“I brought an umbrella in case it rained.”

Related words

By the time + clause, clauseWhether + clause (or not)So + adjective + that + clauseEven if + clause, clauseSuch + (a/an) + noun + that + clauseIf + past perfect, would have + past participleOn the one hand + clause; on the other hand + clauseGiven that + clause, + clause

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In Complex sentences

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