This is an interesting question, Farhoush And I'm afraid that there are at least seven ways to use the adjective 'afraid'! The most common meaning of 'afraid' is the one I have just used to introduce the topic -when we want to politely tell someone something that may upset, disappoint, annoy or even worry them.

Farhoush，这个问题很有趣呢。但是我恐怕得说，形容词afraid至少有七种用法呢。‘afraid’最常见的用法就是我刚才在引入我们的话题时所用的——当我们要用礼貌的方式告诉别人一些让他们失望、烦人或担心的事情的时候。

In terms of the grammar, we can say either: 'I'm afraid that there are at least seven ways' OR. . .

从语法方面来说，我们有以下的用法：‘I'm afraid that there are at least seven ways'（有that）或者。

'I'm afraid there are at least seven ways' – without using'that'. We usually hear this meaning of 'afraid' in spoken English.

‘I'm afraid there are at least seven ways' —没有that。我们常在口语中听到‘afraid’的这种意思。

The next most common meaning of 'afraid' is 'to be frightened'. But remember that 'afraid' can't be used before a noun, so we can't talk about 'an easily afraid person'. That's not right.

‘afraid’的另一种常见的用法是‘to be frightened'（害怕）。但切记，afraid不能放在名词之前，所以我们不能说‘an easily afraid person'，这是不对的。

Instead, try these: 'He's an easily frightened person' or even simpler, 'He's easily frightened.

我们可以这么说：‘He's an easily frightened person' 或者简单点‘He's easily frightened.' （他很容易受惊吓）。

'He's afraid of something' – for example, He's afraid of spiders. 'He's afraid to do something – for example: He's afraid to ask for help.

‘他害怕某种东西’，比如吧，他害怕蜘蛛。例如，他害怕做某种事情，例如，他害怕开口寻求帮助。

'He's afraid of doing something – for example: He's afraid of flying. So lots of examples there!

他害怕某种东西，如，他害怕坐飞机。这样的例子有很多！

Less common uses of the adjective 'afraid' are used as a way of saying either 'yes' or 'no'. 'Afraid' not. . . is used to mean 'no' .

afraid这个形容词的一种不常见的用法是，被用来表示首肯或者否决（答应或者拒绝）。afraid not被用来表示no。

And 'Afraid' so. . . is used to mean 'yes'. Here's an example of how we can use 'afraid' to mean 'no':

而afraid so被用来表示yes。这里还有使用afraid来表示no的例子。

A: Are you doing anything nice this weekend, Femi. F: I'm afraid not, I have to work – I need the money!

Femi，这个周末会做什么好玩的事情吗？不会呢，得工作，我需要钱啊！

Or when someone calls and the person they want to speak to isn't there: A: Could I speak to Sun Chen please?

又或者，当某人打电话，但是他们要找的人不在当场：可以找一下Sun Chen吗？

B: I'm afraid not, he's not available at the moment. Would you like to leave a message? Next, 'afraid' meaning 'yes':

恐怕不行呢，他现在没空。你愿意留言吗？接下来，afraid表示yes的例子：

A: Are you leaving now, Yvonne? Y: I'm afraid so, I have to be home by 9 o'clock.

Yvonne，你现在就要走吗？是的呢。我得9点就到家。

So let's sum up. . . We can use the word 'afraid' in the following ways:

我们来总结一下：afraid有以下几种用法：

First, to politely tell someone something that may disappoint them. Second, to simply mean: 'frightened'.

首先，是一种礼貌的方式告知某人某事可能会令他们失望。第二，可以是简单的frightened的意思——受惊吓。

And third, to mean 'yes' when we say 'I'm afraid so' – and 'no' when we say 'I'm afraid not'.

第三，当我们使用I'm afraid so的时候，是yes的意思。而当我们说I'm afraid not的时候指的是no。

So, to return to the most common meaning of 'afraid'; I'm afraid that there are several uses of the word! And I hope this has helped.

再看一眼，afraid最常见的一种意思，我恐怕得说，它的用法有若干种呢！希望这个对你有帮助。