网友说的是不是这种情况：

He is afraid to wake his wife.

He is afraid of waking his wife.

He is afraid that he will wake his wife.

不同的形容词，可能有不同的搭配，并非这三种格式都具备。而且，即便都有可能，意思未必相同。简析这3种结构：

He is afraid to wake his wife.（他不敢吵醒他妻子。怕老婆型。）

He is afraid of waking his wife.（他担心会吵醒他妻子。爱老婆型）

He is afraid that he will wake his wife.（上面两种意思都有：他不敢吵醒他妻子。他担心会吵醒他妻子。）