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 #2 (permalink) Sat Sep 23, 2006 19:43 pm Afraid of/to |
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Hello, Jesus!
To be afraid to do smth
I am afraid to do smth= I don't want to do smth because it's dangerous or the result could be unpleasant
Ex.The streets in this city are not safe at night. Many people are afraid to go out alone (they don't want to go out alone because it's dangerous)
To be afraid of -ing
I am afraid osf something happening=there is a possibility that something bad will happen
Ex. We walked along the path very carefully because it was icy and we were afraid of falling
In a nutshell, you are afraid to do something because you are afraid of something happening as a result.
Ex. The boys were afraid to play football in the garden because they were afraid of breaking a window. |
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 Pamela
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Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 1271
Location: RF
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| #3 (permalink) Sat Sep 23, 2006 20:06 pm Afraid of/to |
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Hello, Pamela!
Many thanks!
But I still hesitate. Maybe because I just see a
slight difference between them sometimes.
For example in my example, if you?ll forgive the
repetition, I think that 'flying' can be dangerous
and possibly something bad could happen.
So, Could I say both of them?
I am afraid of flying/I am afraid to fly.
Thanks a lot!
Jes?s |
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Jesus1
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 192
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| #4 (permalink) Sat Sep 23, 2006 20:20 pm Afraid of/to |
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| Jesus1 wrote: |
Hello, Pamela!
Many thanks!
But I still hesitate. Maybe because I just see a
slight difference between them sometimes.
For example in my example, if you?ll forgive the
repetition, I think that 'flying' can be dangerous
and possibly something bad could happen.
So, Could I say both of them?
I am afraid of flying/I am afraid to fly.
Thanks a lot!
Jes?s |
Jesus, you may say, afraid of flying and afraid to fly, it depends on the context. In my way of thinking there are cases when they can be interchangeable. :wink:
We walked along the path very carefully because it was icy and we were afraid of falling ( here you cannot say afraid to fall because afraid of falling is already a result) |
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Pamela
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 1271
Location: RF
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| #5 (permalink) Sat Sep 23, 2006 20:54 pm Afraid of/to |
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Hi,
Another way of distinguishing between the use of of or to followed by a verb form is that to + infinitive is usually in anticipation as in: I was afraid to speak out loud because I didn't want to disturb anybody and so I kept quiet.
Afraid of is often more general when used with the gerund form as in: I was always afraid of saying what I thought in case I upset someone. This suggests a general fear and does not usually refer to a particular situation.
The construction can also be used with a noun as in: afraid of the dark/heights/crowded places.
Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan
Co-founder
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13891
Location: UK
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| #6 (permalink) Sat Sep 23, 2006 23:02 pm Afraid of/to |
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Right! So, I am afraid to take the exam since
I am afraid of failing it.
Is that correct?
Thank you very much indeed
Jes?s |
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Jesus1
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 192
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| #7 (permalink) Sun Sep 24, 2006 8:42 am Afraid of/to |
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| Jesus, your usage of afraid to do smth and afraid of -ing is Ok :wink: |
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Pamela
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 1271
Location: RF
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| #8 (permalink) Sun Sep 24, 2006 10:49 am Afraid of/to |
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Hi!
Alan, Pamela, Thanks for making English clearer for me.
Have a nice Sunday! |
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Jesus1
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 192
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| Compound nouns (business people vs. businesspeople) | Phrase: "Just about" |
