L’imparfait ou plus-que-parfait for this Level C1 question

Question

For the question, “Je ne voulais pas écouter ________ . I didn't want to listen for fear that you'd be lying”. “De peur que tu ne mentes” is given as the correct answer. Why not de peur que tu n’aies menti?

Chris Wirt · Accepted Answer

"...de peur que tu ne mentes" -- ...for fear that you'd be lying. "...de peur que tu n'aies menti" -- ...for fear that you had been lying.  -- Chris (not a native speaker).

Dorothy Miller · Answer

Sorry - question concerns the present or past subjective

Ron Thomas · Answer

Bonsoir Dorothy,
If the clause is «for fear that you would have been lying» then the subjonctif passé would be appropriate.  However, because the dependent clause is «for fear that you would be lying» it requires the use of the subjonctif present.