having a fit/to have a fit.

Question

He likes a double dose because he's scared to death of having a fit. He likes a double doses because he's scared to death to have a fit. Which is correct, and why?What does it mean " to have a fit"?Thank you

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

have a crisis, bout of some ailment, medical condition

IMO:

He likes a double dose because he's scared to death of having a fit. OK

He likes double doses because he's scared to death to have a fit.

CalifJim · Answer

scared to death is treated the same as scared or afraid as far as the grammatical forms they govern.

The choice is between of + ----ing and to ---, i.e., between a gerund construction and an infinitive construction.

Typically, we use the infinitive form when the subject has control, when the action is something the subject does.
We use the gerund when the action is not controlled by the subject, but is something that happens to him.

1a He is afraid of having a fit.
1b He is scared of getting lost.

2a He is afraid to ask the teacher a question.
2b He is scared to travel by plane.

In the first group, the use of the infinitive would seem very strange.

He's afraid to have a fit would mean that he had control over his fits and could make himself have a fit whenever he chose.
He is scared to get lost would mean that he might purposely make himself lost, which doesn't make sense.

On the other hand, the use of the gerund in the second group is not so strange, and that is accepted as an alternate way of saying it (although, personally, I don't like it as well!)

He is afraid of asking the teacher a question.
He is scared of traveling by plane.

By the way, scared is a somewhat lower register word, and afraid is the better choice unless you are being very informal.

CJ

having a fit/to have a fit.

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