“frighten sb to do sth” 用法详解
什么是 “frighten sb to do sth”？
很多人初学英语时会误以为 “frighten sb to do sth” 是一个标准表达，但实际上，
英语中并不存在 “frighten sb to do sth” 这种结构。
正确的搭配应为 “frighten sb into doing sth”。
✅ 正确：The loud noise frightened the child into crying.
❌ 错误：The loud noise frightened the child to cry.
正确结构解析
动词 frighten 表示“使害怕”，常与介词 into 搭配，
构成 “frighten someone into doing something”，意为：
“因恐惧而迫使某人做某事”
该结构强调：由于受到惊吓，某人被迫采取某种行动。
经典例句
The thief was frightened into confessing by the police’s threats.
She was so frightened by the storm that she was frightened into staying indoors all night.
Don’t try to frighten him into signing the contract — that’s unethical.
常见误区
- ❌ 误用 “frighten sb to do sth” — 英语母语者不会这么说。
- ✅ 正确结构始终是 “frighten + 人 + into + 动名词（doing）”。
- ⚠️ 类似结构还有：scare sb into doing sth, force sb into doing sth 等。
小测试（点击显示答案）
以下哪句是正确的？
A. The ghost story frightened her to scream.
B. The ghost story frightened her into screaming.
正确答案：B