Many adjectives are followed by to + infinitive: hard to understand, kind of you to come, glad to be home, the first to arrive, bound to happen. This unit covers the five main patterns.
A hard to understand, interesting to talk to
Compare:
| (a) | (b) |
|---|---|
| It is hard to read his handwriting. | His handwriting is hard to read. |
The two sentences mean the same. In (b) the object has moved to the front, so it does not appear again after the verb. We say His handwriting is hard to read, not hard to read it.
Other adjectives that work this way include easy, difficult, impossible, nice, good, safe, dangerous, cheap, expensive, interesting, exciting.
The same structure works with adjective + noun: a difficult question to answer.
- Is it safe to swim in this lake?
- Is this lake safe to swim in?
- The instructions were baffling. It was impossible to follow them.
- The instructions were baffling. They were impossible to follow.
- Our neighbour has travelled everywhere. It's fascinating to listen to him.
- Our neighbour is fascinating to listen to.
- That's a tricky decision to make.
B nice of you to ...
We say It's nice of somebody to do something, to comment on what a person has done.
Other adjectives used this way include kind, generous, careless, silly, stupid, inconsiderate, unfair, typical.
- It was kind of you to water my plants while I was away.
- It was careless of Dan to leave his wallet on the bus.
- It's a bit unfair of them to blame you for everything.
- It was typical of Gavin to turn up just as the washing-up was finished.
C sorry to ..., surprised to ...
Use adjective + to ... to say how somebody reacts to something.
Other adjectives used this way include glad, pleased, relieved, surprised, amazed, sad, disappointed.
- I was sorry to hear about your grandad.
- Were your parents surprised to see you?
- After twelve hours on the coach, we were relieved to get off.
D the first to ..., the only one to ...
You can use to ... after the next, the last, the only, the first, the second and so on.
The first to know means the first person to know.
- The next bus to leave from stand 6 is the number 22 to Barnsley.
- Everybody else gave up. Marcus was the only one to finish the course.
- If the results come in tonight, you'll be the first to hear.
E sure / likely / bound to ...
You can say that something is sure to, bound to or likely to happen.
Bound to and sure to mean you are certain. Likely to means it is probable. Not likely to means it is improbable, which is a polite way of describing most of one's plans.
- Leah has practised every night. She's bound to get the part.
- Take a coat. It's sure to be cold up on the moors.
- I could get promoted this year, but it's not likely to happen.
Exercises
65.1 Write each sentence in another way, beginning with the words given.
It's hard to read some maps. (Some maps ...)
Some maps are hard to read.
Some maps are hard to read.
It was difficult to start the lawnmower. (The lawnmower ...)
The lawnmower was difficult to start.
It's impossible to forget some songs. (Some songs ...)
Some songs are impossible to forget.
It's expensive to heat a big house. (A big house ...)
A big house is expensive to heat.
It isn't safe to drink this milk. (This milk ...)
This milk isn't safe to drink.
It's easy to find our street from the station. (Our street ...)
Our street is easy to find from the station.
65.2 Make a sentence from the words in brackets.
I didn't know what to say to her. (difficult question / answer)
It was a difficult question to answer.
It was a difficult question to answer.
Lots of people get this wrong. (easy mistake / make)
It's an easy mistake to make.
We love working in this office. (nice place / work)
It's a nice place to work.
I don't know why he did that. (odd thing / do)
It was an odd thing to do.
65.3 Complete each sentence with a word or phrase from the box.
amazedgladnotof yousillyto hearto helpto inviteto make
It's kind of the Hendersons to invite us round for Sunday dinner.
It's kind of the Hendersons to invite us round for Sunday dinner.
I've been working abroad for six months. I'm to be back in Sheffield.
I've been working abroad for six months. I'm glad to be back in Sheffield.
I heard about the fire at the shop. I was relieved that nobody was hurt.
I heard about the fire at the shop. I was relieved to hear that nobody was hurt.
It was very thoughtful to send me a card.
It was very thoughtful of you to send me a card.
If you need anything moving, just ask. I'd be happy you.
If you need anything moving, just ask. I'd be happy to help you.
I thought the old café had closed years ago. I was to find it still open.
I thought the old café had closed years ago. I was amazed to find it still open.
It was rude of the people upstairs so much noise at three in the morning.
It was rude of the people upstairs to make so much noise at three in the morning.
I thought the audition had gone well. I was disappointed to get a call back.
I thought the audition had gone well. I was disappointed not to get a call back.
It's of me to get upset about such a small thing.
It's silly of me to get upset about such a small thing.
65.4 Write a sentence using the first, the second, the last or the only.
Nobody arrived before me. (I was ...)
I was the first person to arrive.
I was the first person to arrive.
Everybody else left the party before Siobhan. (Siobhan was ...)
Siobhan was the last person to leave the party.
Ravi got the answer right. Everyone else in the class got it wrong. (Ravi ...)
Ravi was the only person to get the answer right.
I rang the council about the potholes. My neighbour had already rung them. (I ...)
I was the second person to ring the council about the potholes.
Amy Johnson flew solo from Britain to Australia in 1930. No woman had done this before her. (Amy Johnson ...)
Amy Johnson was the first woman to fly solo from Britain to Australia.
65.5 Complete each sentence using the words in brackets and a suitable verb.
Leah has rehearsed for weeks. She's bound to get (she / bound / get) the part.
Leah has rehearsed for weeks. She's bound to get the part.
No wonder you can't keep your eyes open. (you / bound / be) tired after a night shift.
No wonder you can't keep your eyes open. You're bound to be tired after a night shift.
Don't give Jack the tickets to look after. (he / sure / lose) them.
Don't give Jack the tickets to look after. He's sure to lose them.
You won't need your gloves. (it / not / likely / be) cold today.
You won't need your gloves. It isn't likely to be cold today.
It's the first day of the sales. (there / sure / be) long queues outside the shops.
It's the first day of the sales. There are sure to be long queues outside the shops.