× We were much afraid that we would miss the flight.
√ We were very afraid that we would miss the flight. (《朗文英语正误词典》, 上海译文出版社, 1994, p. 205)
但是，《英语常用词用法词典》(北大西语系，商务印书馆，1985，p.368)则认为：“afraid以及其他一些只能用作表语的形容词，应当作为过去分词看待，用much来修饰，而不用very。例如：
He is much afraid that the plan won't work. 他深怕那方案行不通。”请问究竟孰是孰非？
我想，R. Quirk 等人对这个问题的论述能够给你一个满意回答：“Some a-adjectives freely take premodification by very ... eg: afraid, alert, alike, aloof, ashamed, and awake. Others do so marginally, eg: asleep and awake. ... Some of the a-adjectives can also be premodified by very much (particularly afraid, alike, ashamed, aware)...”
“某些以a-开头的形容词可以随意地用very来修饰……例如:afraid, alert, alike, aloof, ashamed 和 awake。其他一些以a-开头的形容词则勉强可以这样用,例如:asleep 和 awake……有一些以a-开头的形容词还可以用very much来修饰(尤其是afraid, alike, ashamed, aware)”