File 9 B Vocabuary - Fear

I've been afraid of it for years

Common Phobias -  click and read!

Frightened
Scared
Terrified
Alarmed
Paranoid

These words all describe feeling or showing fear.

Afraid [not before noun] feeling fear; worried that something bad might happen:
There's nothing to be afraid of. Aren't you afraid (that) you'll fall?
Frightened: feeling fear; worried that something bad might happen:
a frightened child
She was frightened that the glass would break.
Scared (rather informal) feeling fear; worried that something bad might happen:
The thieves got scared and ran away.

afraid, frightened or scared? 

Scared is more informal, more common in speech, and often describes small fears.Afraid cannot come before a noun. It can only take the preposition of, not about. If you are afraid/frightened/scared of somebody/something/doing something or afraid/frightened/scared to do something, you think you are in danger of being hurt or suffering in some way.

If you are frightened/scared about something/doing something, it is less a fear for your personal safety and more a worry that something unpleasant might happen.

Terrified: very frightened:
I was terrified (that) she wouldn't come.
She looked at him with wide, terrified eyes.
Alarmed: afraid that something dangerous or unpleasant might happen:
She was alarmed at the prospect of travelling alone.
Paranoid (rather informal) afraid or suspicious of other people and believing that they are trying to harm you, in a way that is not reasonable:
You're just being paranoid
.afraid/frightened/scared of spiders.
Frightened/scared/paranoid about
…afraid/frightened/scared/terrified that
…afraid/frightened/scared to open the door, etc.
Don't be afraid/frightened/scared/alarmed.