fear

1.fear（动词）后面接不定式或动名词都可以，如I fear to offend him和I fear offending him。接以that引导的从句也可以。例如：I fear that I may offend him. 但不可接宾语和不定式，如不可说I fear myself to offend him。

2.fear（动词）不及be afraid普通。fear后面接以lest引导的从句更不通俗，如We feared lest he should fail远不如We were afraid (that) he might fail通俗。

3.fear（名词）后面可以接以that引导的从句。例如：I have a fear that I may offend him.

4.下面各句意思相同：

• For fear of mispronouncing some words I read very slowly.
• For fear that I should mispronounce some words I read very slowly.
• For fear lest I should mispronounce some words I read very slowly.
• For fear I should mispronounce some words I read very slowly.

注意fear前面没有the。把第二句、第三句和第四句里的should改作might也可以。第三句不很普通。

5.Many people fear the economy may collapse是“很多人担心经济会崩溃”。We fear for the economy是“我们为经济状况担心”。