A.
Afraid to (do) and afraid of (do)ing
I am
afraid to do something = I don't want to do it because it is dangerous or the
result could be bad. We use afraid to do for things we do intentionally:
* A lot
of people are afraid to go out at night. (= they don't want to go out because
it is dangerous--so they don't go out)
* He was
afraid to tell his parents about the broken window. (= he didn't want to tell
them because he knew they would be angry)
I am
afraid of something happening = it is possible that something bad will happen
(for example, an accident). We do not use afraid of ~ing for things we do
intentionally:
* The
path was icy, so we walked very carefully. We were afraid of falling. (= it was
possible that we would fall--not 'we were afraid to fall')
* I
don't like dogs. I'm always afraid of being bitten. (not 'afraid to be bitten')
So, you
are afraid to do something because you are afraid of something happening as a
result:
* I was
afraid to go near the dog because I was afraid of being bitten.
B.
Interested in (do)ing and interested to (do)
I'm
interested in doing something = I'm thinking of doing it, I'd like to do it:
* I'm
trying to sell my car but nobody is interested in buying it. (not 'to buy')
We use
interested to especially with hear/see/know/read/learn. I was interested to
hear it = 'I heard it and it was interesting for me':
* I was
interested to hear that Diane has got a new job.
* Ask
George for his opinion. I would be interested to know what he thinks. (=it
would be interesting for me to know)
This
structure is the same as surprised to/delighted to... etc. (see Unit 64C):
* I was
surprised to hear that Diane has got a new job.
C.
Sorry to (do) and sorry for (do)ing
We
usually say sorry to... to apologize when (or just before) we do something:
* I'm
sorry to bother you, but I need to talk to you.
We use
sorry to (hear/read etc.) to show sympathy with somebody (see Unit 64C):
* I was
sorry to hear that Fiona lost her job. (= I was sorry when I heard ...)
You can
use sorry for (doing something) to apologize for something you did before:
* (I'm)
sorry for shouting at you yesterday. (not 'Sorry to shout ...')
You can
also say:
* (I'm)
sorry I shouted at you yesterday.
D.
Note that we say:
I want
to (do)/I'd like to (do) but I'm thinking of (do)ing/I dream of (do)ing
I failed
to (do) but I succeeded in (do)ing
I
allowed them to (do) but I prevented them from (do)ing
For
examples, see Units 53-54 and 61.
EXERCISES
65.1
Read the situation and use the words in brackets to write a sentence with
afraid.
1. The
streets are unsafe at night.
(a lot
of people/afraid/go/out) _A lot of people are afraid to go out._
2. We
walked very carefully along the icy path.
(we/afraid/fall)
_We were afraid of falling._
3. I
don't usually carry my passport with me.
(I/afraid/lose/it)
4. The
sea was very rough.
(we/afraid/go/swimming)
5. We
rushed to the station.
(we/afraid/miss/our train)
6. In
the middle of the film there was a particularly horrifying scene.
(we/afraid/look)
7. The
glasses were very full, so Jane carried them very carefully.
(she/afraid/spill/the drinks)
8. I
didn't like the look of the food on my plate.
a
(I/afraid/eat/it)
b
(I/afraid/make/myself ill)
65.2
Complete the sentences using one of these verbs:
buy get
go hear read
start
1. I'm
trying to sell my car but nobody is interested _in buying_ it.
2. Julia
is interested --- her own business.
3. I was
interested --- your letter in the newspaper last week.
4. Bill
wants to stay single. He's not interested --- married.
5. You
must tell me what you think. I'm always interested --- your opinion.
6.
There's a party tonight but I'm not interested ---
65.3
Complete the sentences using the verb in brackets.
1. I'm
sorry _for shouting_ at you yesterday. (shout)
2. Sorry
--- you but have you got a pen I could borrow? (disturb)
3. Sorry
--- late last night. I didn't realize the time. (be)
4. I'm
sorry --- what I said yesterday. I didn't really mean it. (say)
5. 'I've
just had my exam results. I failed.' 'Oh? I'm sorry --- that.' (hear)
65.4
Complete the sentences using the verb in brackets.
1. a. We
wanted _to leave_ the building. (leave)
b. We
weren't allowed --- the building. (leave)
c. We
were prevented --- the building. (leave)
2. a.
Fred failed --- the problem. (solve)
b. Amy
succeeded --- the problem. (solve)
3. a.
I'm thinking --- away next week. (go)
b. I'm
hoping --- away next week. (go)
c. I'm
looking forward --- away next week. (go)
d. I'd
like --- away next week. (go)
4. a.
Mary wanted --- me a drink. (buy)
b. Mary
promised --- me a drink. (buy)
c. Mary
insisted --- me a drink. (buy)
d. Mary
wouldn't dream --- me a drink. (buy)
answer
65.1
3 I'm
afraid of losing it.
4 We
were afraid to go swimming.
5 We
were afraid of missing our train.
6 We
were afraid to look.
7 She
was afraid of spilling the drinks.
8 a. I
was afraid to eat it.
b. I was
afraid of making myself ill.
65.2
2 in
starting
3 to
read
4 in
getting
5 to
hear/in hearing
6 in
going
65.3
2 to
disturb
3 for
being late or I was late
4 for
saying or I said
5 to
hear
65.4
1 b. to
leave
c. from
leaving
2 a. to
solve
b. in
solving
3 a. of
going
b. to go
c. to
going
d. to go
4 a. to
buy
b. to
buy
c. on
buying
d. of
buying
