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Unit 66. То ... (afraid to do) and preposition + -ing (afraid of -ing)




Unit 66; Part A

galka.jpgAfraid 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; we can choose to do them or not:

    This part of town is dangerous. People are afraid to walk here at night.
     (= they don't want to walk here because it is dangerous - so they don't)
    James was afraid to tell his parents what had happened.
     (= he didn't want to tell them because he knew they would be angry, worried etc.)

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.

Unit 66; Part B

galka.jpgInterested in (do)ing and interested to (do)
I'm interested in doing something
= I'm thinking of doing it, I would like to do it:
    Let me know if you're interested in joining the club.  (not to join)
    I tried to sell my car, but nobody was interested in buying it.
  (not to buy)

We use interested to ... to say how somebody reacts to what they hear/see/read/learn/know/find.
For example, 'I was interested to hear it' = I heard it and it was interesting for me:
    I was interested to hear that Tanya has left her job.
    Ask Mike for his opinion. I would be interested to know what he thinks.
  (= it would be interesting for me to know it)

This structure is the same as surprised to ... / glad to ...
etc. (see Unit 65C):
•    I was surprised to hear that Tanya has left her job.

Unit 66; Part C

galka.jpgSorry to (do) and sorry for/about (do)ing
We use sorry to ... to say we regret something that happens
(see Unit 65C):

    I was sorry to hear that Nicky lost her job. 
(= I was sorry when I heard that ...)
    I've enjoyed my stay here. I'll be sorry to leave.

We also say sorry to ... to apologise at the time we do something:

    I'm sorry to phone you so late, but I need to ask you something.

You can use sorry for or sorry about (doing something) to apologise for something you did before:

    I'm sorry for (or about) shouting at you yesterday.  (not sorry to shout)

You can also say:

    I'm sorry I shouted at you yesterday.

Unit 66; Part D

galka.jpgWe say:
I want to (do ) / I'd like to (do)        
I failed to
(do)
I allowed
them to (do)


but
but
but        

I'm thinking of (do)ing / I dream of (do)ing
I succeeded in (do)ing
I prevented them from (do)ing
I stopped them from (do)ing



Exercises

flag.jpgUse the words in brackets to write sentences. Use afraid to ... or afraid of -ing.
Key.3    I'm afraid of losing it.
4    I was afraid to tell her.
5    We were afraid of missing our train.
6    We were afraid to look.
7    I was afraid of dropping it.
8    a   I was afraid to eat it.
     b   I was afraid of getting sick.


1    The streets are unsafe at night.
     (a lot of people / afraid / go / out)  A lot of people 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    I thought she would be angry if I told her what had happened.
      (I / afraid / tell / her) ___________________________
5    We rushed to the station.
     (we / afraid / miss / our train) ___________________________
6    In the middle of the film there was an especially horrifying scene.
     (we / afraid / look) ___________________________
7    The vase was very valuable, so I held it carefully.
      (I / afraid / drop / it)     
8    I thought the food on my plate didn't look fresh.
     a   (I / afraid / eat / it) ___________________________
     b   (I / afraid / get / sick) ___________________________
flag.jpgComplete the sentences using in ... or to ... . Use these verbs:
Key.2    in starting
3    to read
4    in getting
5    to know
6    in looking
 
buy       get       know       look        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    Ben wants to stay single. He's not interested ____________ married.
5    I met Mark a few days ago. You'll be interested ____________ that he's just got a job in Paris.
6    I don't enjoy sightseeing. I'm not interested ____________ at old buildings.
flag.jpgComplete each sentence using sorry for/about ... or sorry to ... . Use the verb in brackets.
Key.2    sorry to hear
3    sorry for saying / sorry about saying
4    sorry to disturb
5    sorry for losing / sorry about losing


1    I'm    sorry to phone   you so late, but I need to ask you something.  (phone)
2    I was ________________ that you didn't get the job you applied for.  (hear)
3    I'm ________________ all those bad things about you. I didn't mean them.  (say)
4    I'm ________________ you, but do you have a pen I could borrow?  (disturb)
5    I'm ________________ the book you lent me. I'll buy you another one.  (lose)
flag.jpgComplete each sentence using the verb in brackets.
Key.1    b   to leave
     c    from leaving
2    a   to solve
     b   in solving
3    a   of/about going
     b   to go
     с   to go
     d   to going
4    a   to buy
     b   to buy
     с   on buying
      d  of buying


1    a   We wanted   to leave   the building.   (leave)
     b   We weren't allowed _________ the building.  (leave)
     с   We were prevented _________ the building. (leave)
2    a   Peter failed _________ the problem.  (solve)
      b   Chris succeeded _________ the problem.  (solve)
3    a   I'm thinking _________ away next week.  (go)
      b   I'm hoping _________ away next week.  (go)
     с   I'd like _________ away next week.  (go)
     d   I'm looking forward _________ away next week.  (go)
4    a   Helen wanted _________ me lunch.  (buy)
     b   Helen promised _________ me lunch.  (buy)
     с   Helen insisted _________ me lunch.  (buy)
     d   Helen wouldn't dream _________ me lunch.  (buy)


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