I frightened of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I frightened of" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "I am frightened of"? You can use the corrected phrase when expressing fear or anxiety about something. Example: "I am frightened of spiders and avoid them whenever possible."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

What was I frightened of?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I was frightened - I was frightened of the police, I was frightened of him, I was frightened of everything".

BBC

I am frightened - I am frightened of everybody now".

The Guardian

If anything comes up to me... and I feel frightened of it, I have to attack it," Jackman says.

Huffington Post

I says, 'The trouble is love', I says, 'The problem is, I'm frightened of getting in the shower'.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

I don't think I was frightened of the snake.

The New Yorker

'I am frightened of the racists – but I am more frightened of the police.

The Guardian

"I realized it was because I was frightened of it.

The New York Times

"I couldn't say that I was frightened of my father," Palin says.

Independent

When he was taken to jail, he said, "I was frightened of being sexually assaulted; I was frightened of being assaulted physically" — which he was, half a dozen times.

The New Yorker

That, too, was difficult for me; I have to confess that I was frightened of public speaking.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct form of the verb "to be" (am, is, are, was, were) before "frightened" to ensure grammatical accuracy. For example, say "I am frightened of spiders" instead of "I frightened of spiders".

Common error

A common mistake is to omit the auxiliary verb "am", "is", or "are" before "frightened". Always include the correct form of "to be" to create a grammatically correct sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I frightened of" is an incomplete expression. It attempts to convey a state of being afraid but lacks the necessary auxiliary verb. The grammatically correct form requires the inclusion of "am", "is", or "are" to link the subject with the adjective.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

33%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I frightened of" is grammatically incorrect due to the omission of the auxiliary verb "am". The correct form, "I am frightened of", should always be used to express fear or apprehension. As Ludwig AI points out, this error impacts clarity and credibility, making it unsuitable for formal contexts. Remember to include the auxiliary verb to ensure grammatical accuracy and effective communication. Alternatives such as "I am scared of" and "I fear" offer grammatically sound options for conveying the same sentiment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I am frightened of

Adds the auxiliary verb "am" to form a grammatically correct present tense sentence.

I'm scared of

Uses the synonym "scared" instead of "frightened", while maintaining correct grammar with "I'm".

I fear

Uses the verb "fear" to express a similar emotion, offering a more formal tone.

I am afraid of

Employs "afraid", a common synonym for "frightened", in a grammatically sound structure.

I dread

Suggests a strong sense of apprehension or aversion, implying a more intense fear.

I'm terrified of

Replaces "frightened" with "terrified" to convey a greater level of fear.

I am apprehensive about

Uses a more formal term, "apprehensive", to express anxiety or unease.

I am anxious about

Substitutes "frightened" with "anxious", focusing on worry and nervousness.

I am worried about

Offers a more general expression of concern or anxiety, suitable for various contexts.

It frightens me

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize the cause of fear rather than the subject's state.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "I frightened of"?

The correct way to express this sentiment is "I am frightened of". The auxiliary verb "am" is necessary for grammatical correctness.

What does "frightened of" mean?

"Frightened of" means feeling fear or anxiety about something. The correct grammatical form is to include a verb like "am", "is", or "are" before "frightened". So it becomes "I am frightened of" which means that something makes you feel fear, anxious or apprehensive.

What can I say instead of "I frightened of"?

Since "I frightened of" is grammatically incorrect, you can use alternatives like "I am scared of", "I fear", or "I am afraid of".

Is "I frightened of" grammatically correct?

No, "I frightened of" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "I am frightened of", which includes the auxiliary verb "am".