以a-开头的形容词用法新探 ． afraid

以a-开头的形容词用法新探 • afraid

一、afraid的用法

A. 作表语

1. 不敢[害怕](做某事)的 (unwilling to do something because you are worried about what will happen if you do it.) 相当于frightened。

(1) afraid of sb / sth 害怕某人[物] 例如：

Are you afraid of snakes? (=Are you frightened of snakes? / Do you fear snakes? / Are you scared of snakes? / Are you fearful of snakes?)你怕蛇吗?

I was afraid of the other boys... 我害怕其他的男孩……

(2) afraid of doing sth 害怕做某事 例如：

He's afraid of going out alone at night. 他害怕夜晚独自出去。

(3) afraid to do sth  害怕(或不敢)做某事  例如：

I'm still afraid to sleep in my own bedroom. 我怕仍然不敢再自己的卧室睡觉。

2. 担忧或忧虑(某事物可能产生的后果); 恐怕 (worried or anxious about (the possible result of sth))

(1) afraid of doing sth  担心做某事 例如：

I didn't mention it because I was afraid of upsetting him. (=I didn't mention it because I was afraid (that) I might upset him.) 我没有提起那件事, 因为我怕他心烦意乱。

(2) afraid to do sth  担心做某事 例如：

Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t understand. 你要是不懂，尽管问好了。

(3) afraid that....  恐怕…… 例如：

He's afraid that he might lose customers. (= He's afraid of losing customers.) 他怕失去顾客。

3. 担心(某事物[某人]会遇到危险) (frightened or worried about things that may put sth / sb in danger)

afraid for sth / sb 担心某人[物] 例如：

They’ve been laying people off, and Charlie is afraid for his job. 他们一直在裁员，所以查理为自己的工作担心。

4. I’m afraid... (礼貌地说出令人不快、失望或感到遗憾的事)我怕，恐怕，很遗憾，对不起 (used as a polite way of telling sb. sth. that is unpleasant or disappointing, or that you are sorry about)

(1) I’m afraid that... (通常省略that) 例如：

I'm afraid we can't come. 很抱歉, 我们不能来。

“Are we late?? “I'm afraid that we are.” “我们迟到了吗？”“恐怕是迟到了。”

注：I’m afraid也可以作插入语，放在后面。例如：

I can't help you, I'm afraid. 我帮不了你的忙, 对不起。

(2) I’m afraid so.(=yes) 恐怕是的。例如：

“Have we missed the train?” “I'm afraid so. (=I'm afraid we’ve missed the train.)” “我们误了火车了吗?”“恐怕是误了。”

(3) I’m afraid not.(=no) 恐怕不是的。例如：

“Was she impressed with our work?” “I'm afraid not. (=I'm afraid she was impressed with our work)” “我们的工作能给她留下印象吗？”“恐怕不能。”

B. 作宾语补足语

It made you afraid to step out of your house. 这使你不敢走出你的家院。

C. 作状语

Afraid of being cut off, they lost no time in turning back. 为怕给敌人切断，他们急忙撤了回来。