be afraid of 和be afraid to 都有“害怕(做)……”的意思,但它们的用法不同。
1. be afraid of +名词/代词宾格/动词ing形式。意思是“害怕某事会发生”,重点在“怕”。
也可用 be afraid that 替换。
2. be afraid to +动词原形。意思是“(因为害怕而)不敢做某事”,重点在“不敢”。
3、表示害怕做某事或不敢做某事等时,两者可互换。
如:
1). The little boy is afraid to return home because he is afraid of being beaten by his father.
这个小男孩因为害怕会被他老爸打,所以不敢回家。
2). The little girl was afraid to walk on the wooden bridge, for she is afraid of falling into the river.
这个小女孩儿不敢在木桥上走,因为她生怕掉进河里。
3). He is afraid of snake .
他怕跎。
4).He was afraid of losing face.
=He was afraid (that) he lost face.
他怕失面子。
5). He is afraid to go out alone at night.
=He is afraid of going out alone at night.
他不敢晚上一个人出去。
be afraid of
动词短语,意思是“害怕(某人或者物)”
例如:I am afraid of snakes.我怕蛇。I am afraid of living alone.我害怕独居(living alone是动名词短语)。of后面接名词、动名词、代词等等。
be afraid to
动词短语,意思是“害怕(做某事)”
例如:I am afraid to live alone.我害怕独居。to后面接动词原形。