066 : to … (afraid to do) and preposition + -ing (afraid of -ing)

   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; 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 or worried)

 

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 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 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 left her job.

 

 

   C   

Sorry 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.

 

 

   D   

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 I stopped them from (do)ing

 

For examples, see Units 54-55 and 62.

 

 

 

※ deliberate : 

 

deliberate = intentional

• The speech was a deliberate attempt to embarrass the government.

 

 

 

※ intend, intention, intentional(= intended, deliberate), intentionally 

 

intend : in(=towards) + tend(=stretch)

 

1. have a plan or purpose in mind

• intend (somebody) to do something
• intend (somebody) something
• it is intended that ...
• intend that ...

 

2. intend = mean

• intend something as something  (ex.) He intended it as a joke. 

 

- 두 가지 의미 모두 ' in(=towards) + tend(=stretch)' 만 기억하면 됨.

 

 

 

※ intention : 

 

 

intention :

what you intend or plan to do; your aim (=purpose)

• intention of doing something

// I have no intention of going to the wedding.

// I have every intention of paying her back what I owe her.

• with the intention of doing something

// He left England with the intention of travelling in Africa.

• intention to do something

// He has announced his intention to retire.

// The Prime Minister declared her intention to remain in office despite declining support.

// The original intention was to devote three months to the project.

• intention in doing something

// Her intentions in making this proposal are clear.

• intention that… // It was not my intention that she should suffer.
• She's full of good intentions but they rarely work out.

 

 

 

※ devote to : (phrasal verb)

 

devote something to something :

​to give an amount of time, attention, etc. to something

• I could only devote two hours a day to the work.
• She plans to devote part of her vacation to reading.
• Some of the money they raise will be devoted to repairing the church's roof.
• He devoted [=dedicated] his life/time to helping the poor. = He devoted himself to helping the poor. [=he used his time, energy, etc., to help the poor]
• She devoted herself to her family.

 

(연상 기법) de + vote(투표) // 투(投) : 던질 투 

∴ devote : 던지다(들이다, 바치다), 투입하다, 투신하다(헌신하다).

 

 

 

※ regret & sorry :

 

regret : 유감이다.

 

1. to feel sorry about something you have done.

regret something // If you don't do it now, you'll only regret it.

regret doing something // He bitterly regretted ever having mentioned it.

regret that // I regret that I never got to meet him in person(직접).

regret what, how, etc… // I deeply regret what I said.

 

2. used to say in a polite or formal way that you are sorry or sad about a situation.

regret something // The airline regrets any inconvenience.

regret to do something // We regret to inform you that your application has not been successful.

regret that // I regret that I am unable to accept your kind invitation.

 

 

sorry : 유감이다.

 

1. 과거의 어떤 행동에 대해 유감이다. (미안하다)

sorry about something // We're very sorry about the damage to your car.

sorry for something // She is obviously deeply sorry for what she has done.

sorry for doing something // He says he's really sorry for taking the car without asking.

sorry (that)… // She was sorry that she'd lost her temper.

 

2. 현재의 어떤 상황에 대해 유감이다.

sorry about something // I'm sorry about your mother. I do hope she'll soon be feeling better.

sorry for something // I'm very sorry for your loss (= expressing sympathy when somebody has died).

sorry to do something // We're sorry to hear that your father's in hospital again.

sorry (that)… // I'm sorry that your husband lost his job.