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Sometimes clauses concessive in form have a non-concessive meaning of cause or attendant circumstance.
The sergeant, fool as he was, couldn't see the point (because he was a fool, being a fool).
II. Clauses of open concession (придаточные уступительные со значением гипотетического допуще-
ния). Clauses of this type express an unreal condition, despite which the action in the principal clause is carried
out. The predicate in the subordinate clause may be in the indicative or in the subjunctive mood (in the latter
case the quasi-subjunctive forms with may and might are generally used).
Whatever may be the shortcomings and defects of the present treatment, it is vain to attempt to extenuate
or excuse them in a short preface.
However much advice you give him, he does exactly what he wants.
III. Clauses of disjunctive or alternative concession (придаточные уступительные со значением
альтернативы). These clauses admit two possible alternatives, both of which may be unreal, or may refer to the
future. As can be seen from the examples given below, the contrast between the principal and the subordinate
clause or clauses is weaker, as there are two alternatives, neither of which can be considered as an acceptable
condition.
“Coward!” he repeated. “Coward, am I? Then I'll be a coward, and you shall kiss me whether you will or
not!”
The complex sentence with an adverbial clause of purpose
§ 173. Clauses of purpose generally express the purpose of the action, which is stated in the main
clause. The verb-predicate in the subordinate clause is in the subjunctive mood as it expresses a planned but not
a real action. Adverbial clauses of purpose are introduced by conjunctions that, so that, lest, so as, so, in order
that, for fear that.
I trode on an edging of turf that the crackle of the pebbly gravel might not betray me.
I tell you all this so that you may understand me perfectly.
The conjunctions lest and for fear (that) introduce clauses stating what is to be prevented, as botli the
conjunctions have a negative meaning. Lest is now extremely formal and after this conjunction the analytical
subjunctive with should auxiliary is generally used.
He was like a man who is afraid to look behind him lest he should see something there which ought not to
be there.
“It’s a bit lighter in the park,” he said, “but take it (an electric torch) for fear you get off the path.”
In some cases the meaning of purpose in clauses introduced by lest and for fear that is weakened so that the
clause expresses rather general motivation than purpose, or else an outcome of the action in the main clause, as
in:
Lest the wall should collapse, they evacuated the building. (They did not evacuate the building with the
purpose of causing the wall to collapse.)
Better chain up the dog for fear he bites.
Note:
The conjunctions that, so that, lest, so are not confined only to clauses of purpose: that may introduce
subject clauses, predicative clauses, and object clauses;
so that may introduce clauses of result, lest - clauses of cause, subject clauses, predicative clauses and object
clauses; so - clauses of result and of cause.