Be Scared To Do vs. Scared Of Something
Cambridge directly records scared + to-infinitive and scared of + noun/-ing, so both structures can be explained without inferring unsupported symmetry.
Use “scared to do something” when fear is attached to taking an action. Use “scared of something” for the object or cause of fear; Cambridge also directly illustrates scared of + -ing.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| fear attached to taking an action | scared + to-infinitive | use the infinitive when the feared step is an action |
| fear directed toward a thing, situation, or activity | scared of + noun / -ing | use “of” to name the object or activity feared |
Quick tests
Action-or-object test
Is the fear about performing the action, or about a thing/activity treated as the object of fear?
If yes: Use “scared to + verb” for the action.
If no: Use “scared of + noun/-ing” for the object or activity.
Caveat: Both patterns are documented; the choice follows the complement relationship rather than a correctness ranking between them.
Examples
He was scared to ask for clarification.
The infinitive names the action he feared taking.
He was scared of public speaking.
“Of” introduces the activity that is the object of fear.
She was scared to enter because she was scared of the noise inside.
The example separates feared action from feared thing.
Further guidance
Core difference
Cambridge documents scared + to-infinitive and scared of + noun/-ing as attested complement patterns.
Style Boundary
The prepositional of-pattern and the to-infinitive pattern are structurally different; preserve that distinction.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Scared (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct learner-dictionary evidence for scared of + noun/-ing and scared + to-infinitive.