What is the difference between "be afraid of" and "have fear"

[scotty]

Test No. incompl/elem-17 "White Water Rafting", question 6

Why not? There is nothing to be ......... of. After all it won't be just us in the balloon.

(a) fear
(b) afraid
(c) fright

Test No. incompl/elem-17 "White Water Rafting", answer 6

Why not? There is nothing to be afraid of. After all it won't be just us in the balloon.

Correct answer: (b) afraid

Your answer was: incorrect
Why not? There is nothing to be fear of. After all it won't be just us in the balloon.
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why are we use afraid instance of fear?

[Alan]

Hi Scott,

In the particular sentence I've written you couldn't have two verbs next to each other: to be + fear. You could say: to be fearful(adjective) of but the only one you can choose from the list to fit here is: be afraid of.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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