《薄冰英语语法》(开明出版社，p.536)在讲原因状语从句时举了下面的例句：“Shut the window for fear (that) it may rain. 关上窗户，恐怕要下雨。(短语 for fear 引导原因状语从句)”然后，在讲目的状语从句(p.538)中又举了类似的例句：
"He took an umbrella with him for fear it might rain.
他带了一把伞,以防下雨。(for fear 之后省去 that)”
这似乎有自相矛盾之嫌。for fear(that)引导的从句究竟是原因状语从句,还是目的状语从句?
薄冰教授对 for fear(that)作了两种不同的解释,这并不是由于他的疏忽,而是由于 for fear(that)结构本身容许作两种解释的缘故。
有一派英语语法专家如 R. Quirk, A. J. Thomson 等认为, for fear (that) 引导的是否定的目的状语从句, 表示“以便不”“以防”等含义。例如, 对于下面的句子:
They left early for fear(that) they would meet him.
可以解释为：
They left early in order that they would not meet him. 他们早早离开，以免遇见他。
另一派英语语法学家,如 CIDE, LDCE 的编著者们认为, for fear(that) 引导的是原因状语从句: for fear(that) = because:
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They wouldn't let their cat run around outside for fear that (= because they were worried that) it would get run over by a car. (CIDE) 他们不肯让他们的猫在外面乱跑,是因为怕猫被汽车压了(生怕猫被汽车压了)。
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He went out in disguise, for fear that someone might recognize him. 他化装外出，因为他怕有人认出他(以免有人认出他)。