Afraidmeaning ‘feeling fear’
Afraidas an adjective means ‘feeling fear’.We use it withof+ noun,of+-ingform, ato-infinitive or athat-clause:
Are youafraidof the dark?(of+ noun)
She seemedafraidof walking home alone.(of+ -ing form)
If you don’t understand, don’t beafraidto ask.(to-infinitive)
They lookedafraidthat we might get lost in the city centre.(that-clause)
We only useafraidafter a verb such asbe, seem, become, not before a noun (predicatively):
Her mother is very ill andafraid.
Not:Her afraid mother
See also:
Adjectives: order
Afraid: softening
We also useto be afraidin phrases such asafraid that, afraid to say,afraid notandafraid sowhen we want to soften statements to avoid saying something too directly. We often use these expressions to respond to bad news, or when we are sorry about something.Be afraid notandbe afraid soare only used as responses:
I’mafraid thatwe can’t agree to your proposal.
A:Is it right that she has resigned?
B:We’reafraid to sayshe has.
A:Did your team win?
B:I’mafraid not.
A:Is the shop closed?
B:I’mafraid so.
See also:
Hedges (just)
Politeness