Non entro nel cimitero: ho paura.

Questions & Answers about Non entro nel cimitero: ho paura.

Since this lesson is about negative commands, why doesn't this sentence use the infinitive (Non entrare)?
Because this isn't a command! The speaker is talking about themselves, saying "I do not enter." The special rule you are learning (non + infinitive) is only for telling someone else not to do something, like "Don't enter!" (Non entrare!).
Why is it nel cimitero instead of just in cimitero?
When entering a specific place, Italian generally requires the definite article ("the"). Nel is the combined form of the preposition in (in/into) and the masculine singular article il (the).
Why do we use ho (I have) instead of sono (I am) for "I am afraid"?
In Italian, you don't "be" afraid; you "have" fear. Paura is a noun meaning "fear." This is a very common pattern for physical and emotional states, similar to ho fame (I am hungry) or ho freddo (I am cold).

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