2021-04-13 ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด – A – afraid & frightened

Revision A

2021-04-13

ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด – A – afraid & frightened

แนะนำการใช้ ตามที่ส่วนใหญ่ใช้ แต่ละท้องถิ่น

ความหมาย อาจผันแปร ตาม ตำแหน่ง/หน้าที่ ในประโยค

Dictionary.com

ออกเสียง afraid = ‘uh-FREYD’

ออกเสียง frightened = ‘FRAHYT-nd’

Dictionary.com

SYNONYM STUDY FOR AFRAID

Afraid, alarmed, frightened, terrified

all indicate a state of fear.

Afraid implies innerapprehensive disquiet: afraid of the dark.

Alarmed implies that the feelings are aroused through realization

of some imminent or unexpected dangerto oneself or others:

alarmed by (or about ) someone's illness.

Frightened means shocked with sudden, but usually short-lived, fear, especially that arising from apprehension of physical harm:

frightened by an accident.

Terrified suggests the emotional reaction when one is struck with a violent, overwhelming fear:

terrified by an earthquake.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Choose the Right Synonym for afraid

FEARFUL, APPREHENSIVE, AFRAID

mean disturbed by fear.

FEARFUL implies often a timorous or worrying temperament.

the child is fearful of loud noises

APPREHENSIVE suggests a state of mind

and implies a premonition of evil or danger.

apprehensive of being found out

AFRAID often suggests weakness or cowardice

and regularly implies inhibition of actionor utterance.

afraid to speak the truth

Dictionary of Problem Words in English

Afraid

This word, meaning “filled with fear, apprehension, concern, or regret,”

is overused in everyday conversationwith the verb to be

as a loose, inaccurate synonym for“to think,” “to feel,” “to believe.”

Avoid such statements

as “I’m afraid you’re wrong”

and “I’m afraid not,”

unless yourconcern, regret, or worry is strong and intense.

In speakingand writing, do not use afraid

unless you could equally well employ

scared, apprehensive, fearful, frightened, alarmed, or terrified.

In casual and informal conversation,

afraid is often an unpleasant statement:

“I’m afraid I have bad news for you.”

Collins COBUILD English Usage

Afraid – frightened

1. 'afraid' and 'frightened'

If you are afraid or frightened,

you feel fear because you think something bad will happen.

The children were so afraid that they ran away.

She felt frightened.

You can also say that

you are afraid of someone or something,

or frightened of them.

Tom is afraid of the dark.

They are frightened of their father.

If you don't want to do something

because you think it might be harmful or dangerous,

you can say that you are afraid to do it or frightened to do it.

Many crime victims are afraid to go to the police.

She was frightened to go out on her own.

Be Careful!
Afraid is used only after linking verbs such as be and feel.

Don't use it in front of a noun.

For example, don't talk about 'an afraid child'.

However, you can talk about 'a frightened child'.

He was acting like a frightened kid.

2. another meaning of 'afraid'

If you are worried about something,

you can say that you are afraid of doing something wrong,

or afraid that something will happen.

You don't usually use 'frightened' in this way.

She was afraid that I might be embarrassed.

She was afraid of being late for school.

3. 'I'm afraid...'

If you have to tell someone something

and you think it might upset or annoy them,

you can politely say 'I'm afraid...',

'I'm afraid so',

or 'I'm afraid not'.

'I'm afraid so' means 'yes'.

'I'm afraid not' means 'no',

and both of these expressions are used as responses to questions.

'I'm afraid Sue isn't at her desk at the moment. Can I take a message?'

'I hear she's leaving. Is that right?' – 'I'm afraid so.'

'Can you come round this evening?' – 'I'm afraid not.'