Afraid of doing sth and afraid to do sth

[Vichet]

I oftens encounter the two phrases, but I never think of the differences between them. When someone asked me, I can't deal with them at all. Could you explain me the meaning of them?-Thank you for reading this message.

[Alan]

Both expressions refer to uncertainty/diffidence/fear or being frightened but afraid to describes this feeling about something you are on the point of doing as in: She was afraid to say what she really meant. Afraid of on the other hand talks in much more general terms of this fear that applies to any time or situation as in: Some old people are afraid of walking alone at night in the dark.
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English as a Second Language
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