Unit 58
Infinitive or -ing?(3) - be afraid, need, help
(a) Be afraid to do и be afraid of -ing
I am afraid to do something = Я не хочу
что-то делать, поскольку это небезопасно или
результат действия мне нежелателен:
- The streets in this city are not safe at night. Many people are afraid
to go out alone. (= они не хотят выходить в одиночку,
потому что это опасно)
- She was afraid to tell her parents that she had broken the neighbour's
window. (=она не хотела говорить об этом родителям,
потому что они рассердятся на нее)
I am afraid of something happening =
возможность, что случится нечто нежелательное:
- We walked along the path very carefully because it was icy and we were
afraid of falling. (not `afraid to fall')
- I don't like dogs. I'm always afraid of being bitten.
(not `afraid to be bitten')
Итак, you are afraid to do something, потому
что you are afraid of something happening
в качестве результата. Сравните:
- The boys were afraid to play football in the garden because they were
afraid of breaking a window.
- I was afraid to stay in the sun because I was afraid of getting burnt.
(b) Need to do и need -ing
I need to do something = мне надо что-то сделать:
- I need to take more exercise.
- He needs to work harder.
- I don't need to come to the meeting, do I?
Need -ing = необходимость делать что-то
(употребляется поэтому в passive):
- The batteries in this radio need changing.
(= необходимость замены)
- This jacket is rather dirty. It needs cleaning.
(= необходимость чистки)
- Do you think the grass needs cutting?
(= необходимость стрижки)
(c) Help
За help следует инфинитив с to или без:
- Everybody helped (to) clean up after the party.
- Can somebody help me (to) move this table?
Существует выражение `can't help doing something.'
I can't help doing something = Я не cмог
удержаться, чтобы не сделать этого:
- I tried to be serious but I couldn't help laughing.
- I'm sorry I broke the glass. Someone pushed me and
I couldn't help dropping it.
- He is stupid but it's not his fault. He can't help being stupid.