Although the words afraid and frightened have similar meanings, the grammar is not the same. These are all adjectives and express nearly the same degree of fear. In many cases, they are interchangeable.
Frightened /Adjective/ (ভীত / সন্ত্রস্ত):
Frightened is mainly used to talk about a sudden fear. The uses are – only ‘frightened’ or frightened + noun / frightened of / frightened to / frightened by.
Example:
- The frightened boy could not open his mouth. (Afraid নয়)
- Shazid is very frightened of dogs. (can be interchanged with afraid)
- She is frightened or she is a frightened woman.
- The child was badly frightened by the mask.
- He is frightened of crashing. (can be interchanged with afraid)
Afraid /Adjective/ (ভীত / শঙ্কিত):
Afraid is not normally used before a noun. It goes after the verb. The uses are – only ‘afraid’ / afraid of / afraid to.
Example (can be interchanged with frightened):
- He is very afraid.
- Melissa is afraid of flying.
- She is afraid. (She is an afraid woman হবে না)
- I was a little bit afraid, and I felt like I’d failed a little bit,” she said.
- It's wandering around in circles and it's not at all afraid of us.
- Afraid of the authorities, the smuggler refused to land.