Afraid and Fear

Fill in the blanks with afraid or fear.

1. I ............................

was afraid

feared

Correct! Wrong!

2. Don't .......................... to ask questions.

fear

be afraid

Correct! Wrong!

Be afraid is more common.

3. ......................... spiders?

Do you fear

Are you afraid of

Correct! Wrong!

4. I ......................... that my boss might find out.

am afraid

fear

Either could be used here

Correct! Wrong!

5. I ............................. that I can't help you.

am afraid

fear

Correct! Wrong!

I'm afraid can mean I am sorry to tell you...

6. She feels great .......................... in the dark.

fear

afraid

Correct! Wrong!

7. High places are her biggest ............................

fear

afraid

Correct! Wrong!

8. The immense space and quiet inside the cathedral gave me a proper ......................... of God.

fear

afraid

Correct! Wrong!

9. I ........................... his wrath more than anything.

am afraid

fear

Correct! Wrong!

10. The children were taught to .......................... God.

fear

be afraid

Correct! Wrong!

Fear can mean have respect for.

11. We were ........................ that she might harm herself.

fearful

afraid

Either could be used here

Correct! Wrong!

12. Strangers alarm the ............................... child.

afraid

fearful

Either could be used here

Correct! Wrong!

We cannot use afraid in the attributive position (before the noun).

  Play Again!

Answers

1. I was afraid.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
3. Are you afraid of spiders?
4. I fear / am afraid that my boss might find out.
5. I am afraid that I can’t help you.
6. She feels great fear in the dark.
7. High places are her biggest fear.
8. The immense space and quiet inside the cathedral gave me a proper fear of God.
9. I fear his wrath more than anything.
10. The children were taught to fear God.
11. We were fearful / afraid that she might harm herself.
12. Strangers alarm the fearful child.