[Grammar] afraid to

[Will17]

Hello,

1) Can we ever use the structure "to be afraid TO"?

Eg: I'm afraid to tell my mother.

2)Which is correct:

-I'm afraid I'm pregrant (I think I'm pregnant)

-I'm afraid to be pregnant (Being pregnant scares me)

-I'm afraid of being pregnant (Being pregnant scares me)

Thanks a lot
W

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello,

1) Can we ever use the structure "to be afraid TO"?

Eg: I'm afraid to tell my mother.

2)Which is correct:

-I'm afraid I'm pregrant (I think I'm pregnant)

-I'm afraid to be pregnant (Being pregnant scares me)

-I'm afraid of being pregnant (Being pregnant scares me)

Thanks a lot
W

Your first example "I'm afraid to tell my mother" is fine. We can use "afraid to" if it's followed by an action verb. However, it doesn't work when followed by "to be" so "I'm afraid to be pregnant" is incorrect. "I'm afraid of being pregnant" is correct.

I'm afraid to tell my mother.
I'm afraid to look in the cupboard in case there's a big spider.
I'm afraid to cross the road because the cars go so fast.

I'm afraid of being pregnant.
I'm afraid of appearing stupid.
I'm afraid of feeling sad.

Plus, of course, "afraid of + plural noun".
I'm afraid of cows.
I'm afraid of thunderstorms.
I'm afraid of Martians.

 

[Will17]

And can we say:

"I'm afraid of coming out" or does it have to be "I'm afraid to come out?".

Thanks

W

 

[Barb_D]

Those seem interchangeable.

... to come out. The thought of doing this makes me frightened.
... of coming out. Thinking about what will happen when I do frightens me.

But in practice, there is little difference.

(Be aware that "Coming out" has a connotation of revealing that your are a homosexual. That may or may not have been your intended meaning.)

 

[Will17]

Still wondering which one is correct....:

-I'm afraid to hurt you.

-I'm afraid of hurting you.

Can you help me?

Thanks
W

 

[Barb_D]

Still wondering which one is correct....:

-I'm afraid to hurt you.

-I'm afraid of hurting you.

Can you help me?

Thanks
W

I'm afraid to hurt you means I worry about the consequences (to me) of hurting you. Maybe your big brother will come and hurt me far worse.

I'm afraid of hurting you means that I worry that my actions will have the result of hurting you, which is something I want to avoid. I don't want to make you sad, for example, but I worry that what I'm doing will make that happen.