afraid、frighten、fear、terrify的区别

be afraid of 后可跟名词或动名词,be afraid 后可跟动词不定式,此语的含义是“怕”或“不敢”,be afraid 后可跟that从句,其含义是“恐怕”.
例句：I'm very much afraid I can't.
fear 可以用作动词,也可以用作名词,其含义也是“怕”,但口语中多用be afraid of.例如：Don't fear the dog. 这句话虽正确,但口语中都说Don't be afraid of the dog.此外,fear that…表示“担心”,稍异于be afraid….
frighten 只用作动词,其含义是“吓唬”,“使…害怕”.
例句：don't frighten me. I'm not afraid.
别恐吓我,我不怕.
terrify:
使恐怖：充满恐惧的,使非常害怕；表示“使惊慌”时同 frighten
terrify to drive or impel by menacing（用恐吓或胁迫来驱使别人）
frighten to make afraid
所以说terrify 有一种恐吓的意味,并且使用恐惧来推动人们去做出一些什么事,而Frighten则为较简单的使人感到害怕.
因为frightened out of their wits 跟terrified 是同义的.
terrified adj.很害怕的,极度惊慌的,吓坏了的
She was terrified at the thought of being alone.
她一想到孤零零的独自一人就惊恐不安.
Do you have any idea how terrified I was?
你知道当时我多惶恐吗?
The divers have been frightened out of their wits by giant fish bumping into them as they work.
潜水员曾在他们工作时被撞到他们身上的大鱼吓得惊慌失措.