Cynthia,

I think it's a matter of register.  "Scared", the past participle, is used widely in a casual, colloquial register instead of the more formal "afraid".  It's not that "scared" can't be an adjective.  Like many other participles it functions in both verbal and adjectival ways.  However, "afraid" is the more formal register word that you want them to learn.  If it's explained in terms of levels of formality rather than of parts of speech, they may pick up the difference more easily, particularly since part of speech explanations tend to demand more knowledge of grammar than a lot of our students have.

Herb


-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar on behalf of Cynthia Baird
Sent: Fri 2/16/2007 7:42 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: scared or afraid
 
I have a usage question that has been troubling me for some time.
   
  My students frequently use the word "scared" when I feel they should be using the word "afraid."  Am I wrong?  I feel that "scared" is a verb, whereas "afraid" is an adjective. So, it would be acceptable to say "The boy scared the cat."  (Although, "frightened" would be even better, but remember, I'm teaching young students).  It would also be acceptable to say that "He was afraid of the dark."  Perhaps it's just a pet peeve of mine, but it drives me crazy! Please help me know the truth of correct usage!
   
  Examples:  Macbeth was scared [that] his crime would be discovered.
                   The little boys was scared of the dark.
   
  thanks!



 
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