dark/darkness

[joham]

1. Some children are afraid of dark.
2. Some children are afraid of the dark.
3. Some children are afraid of darkness.
4. Some children are afraid of the darkness.

Are all four sentences correct? Any difference between them?

Thank you in advance.

[tedtmc]

1. Some children are afraid of dark. wrong - dark is an adjective.

2. Some children are afraid of the dark. correct

3. Some children are afraid of darkness. correct

4. Some children are afraid of the darkness. wrong - definite article 'the' is not appropriate.

Are all four sentences correct? Any difference between them? 2 & 3 mean the same.

Thank you in advance.

not a teacher

[SoothingDave]

"Afraid of the dark" is the normal expression.

[emsr2d2]

"Afraid of the dark" is fine as a general statement. However, it's not impossible to use "afraid of the darkness".

The bedroom was black as pitch. Little Jane was afraid of the darkness in her bedroom. It made her think of monsters and the boogeyman under the bed.

[tedtmc]

Some children are afraid of (the) darkness.

In this case, it seems like a general statement, so 'the' shouldn't be there.
I agree, 'the dark' is more common.