1. be afraid to do sth… 不敢(害怕)去做某事;
2. be afraid of doing 担心某事会发生
比如这样的语境:不敢与顾客吵架, 担心会失去他们,分别用1, 2没问题
3. be afraid of sth.害怕某事(如狗)
[题] Not having come in time, he was afraid ____ scolded.
答:可用of being / that he would be; 不能用to be
be afraid of 与 be afraid to在主语发出动作时才可以互换,
注意后者要有主动性,故意性.
He was afraid of swimming in deep water / he was afraid to swim in deep water.
I was afraid to go near the dog because I was afraid of being bitten (不能用 "afraid to be bitten")
其它2个区别:
He is afraid of falling off a cliff.(一般情况);
He was afraid to climb that cliff. (某次具体的事)
Don't be afraid to shout if you see him. (去做某事).
Don't be afraid of shouting if you see him. (已经在做的事).