- Take heed that he escape not. [Purpose.]
- Give him food lest he perish. [Purpose.]
- Let us tarry until he come. [Expectation.]
This construction is confined to poetry and the solemn or formal style. In ordinary language the indicative or a verb-phrase with may is used.
- Take heed that he does not escape.
- Give him food in order that he may not perish.
- Let us wait till he comes.
285. The past subjunctive had is common in had rather and similar phrases.
- I had rather wait a day.
- You had better leave the room.
- He had as lief go as stay.
Note. Had in this construction is sometimes condemned as erroneous or inelegant; but the idiom is well-established.
Might better, would better, and would rather may be used instead of had better, etc.; but would better is improper in the first person.
286. The subjunctive forms are often replaced by verb-phrases containing the auxiliaries may, might, could, would, should.
1. In wishes ([§ 277]).
- May you live long and prosper!
- May he never repent this act!
- Ah, could I but live a hundred years!