phrase (adjective + structure) · neutral

be afraid to + V / be afraid of + V-ing

Band 5-6speakingtask2

Expresses fear about an action: afraid to + infinitive = unwilling or fearful to do something; afraid of + V-ing = afraid of the action or thing itself.

Examples

“I'm afraid to travel alone at night.”

“Many people are afraid of flying.”

“She was afraid to tell him the truth.”

Band 8 sentence

“I was afraid to challenge the proposal at first, but once I understood the data I raised my concerns confidently.”

Collocations

  • be afraid of heights
  • be afraid to tell someone
  • be afraid for someone

Word family

afraid adjectivebe afraid of phrasebe afraid to phrase

Common mistakes

I'm afraid of to fly.→I'm afraid to fly.

She is afraid of to tell him.→She is afraid to tell him.

Say it for a higher band

5scared to + V→6be scared of + V-ing→7+be afraid to + V / be afraid of + V-ing

Synonyms

scared

frightened

Easily confused

scared to + V

“She was scared to cross the old bridge.”

afraid of + noun

“Many people are afraid of spiders.”

Related words

look forward to + V-ingtry + V-ing / try to + Vfor + somebody + to + Vavoid + V-ingbe likely to + Vbegin / start + V-ing / to + Vprevent + somebody + from + V-ingturn out + to + V

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Gerunds & infinitives

Learn it with its set