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Unit 65 · -ing and to …

Adjective + to ...

Study

A

hard to understand, interesting to talk to etc.

Compare sentences (a) and (b):

›

(a) It is hard to understand him.

James doesn't speak clearly.

›

(b) He is hard to understand.

Sentences (a) and (b) have the same meaning. Note that we say:

›

He is hard to understand. (not He is hard to understand him)

We use other adjectives in the same way. For example:

easy nice safe cheap exciting impossible
difficult good dangerous expensive interesting
›

Do you think it is safe to drink this water?

Do you think this water is safe to drink? (not to drink it)

›

The exam questions were very hard. It was impossible to answer them.

The exam questions were very hard. They were impossible to answer. (not to answer them)

›

Nicola has lots of interesting ideas. It's interesting to talk to her.

Nicola is interesting to talk to. (not to talk to her)

We also use this structure with adjective + noun:

›

This is a difficult question to answer. (not to answer it)

B

nice of (you) to ...

We say 'It's nice of somebody to ...' :

›

It was nice of you to take me to the airport. Thank you very much.

We use other adjectives in the same way. For example:

kind generous careless silly stupid inconsiderate unfair typical
›

It's silly of Ruth to give up her job when she needs the money.

›

I think it was unfair of him to criticise me.

C

sorry to ... / surprised to ... etc.

You can use adjective + to ... to say how somebody reacts to something:

›

I'm sorry to hear that your mother isn't well.

We use other adjectives in the same way. For example:

glad pleased relieved surprised amazed sad disappointed
›

Was Julia surprised to see you?

›

It was a long and tiring journey. We were glad to get home.

D

You can use to ... after the next / the last / the only / the first / the second (etc.):

›

The next train to arrive at platform 4 will be the 10.50 to Liverpool.

›

Everybody was late except me. I was the only one to arrive on time.

›

If I have any more news, you will be the first to know. (= the first person to know.)

E

You can say that something is sure/likely/bound to happen:

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Carla is a very good student. She's bound to pass the exam. (= she is sure to pass)

›

It's possible I'll win the lottery one day, but it's not likely to happen. (= it's not probable)

Exercises (5)

0/5 exercises checked
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65.1

Write these sentences in another way, beginning as shown.

  1. 1
    It's hard to understand some things. Some things .example
  2. 2
    It was difficult to open the window. The window .
  3. 3
    It's impossible to translate some words. Some words .
  4. 4
    It's expensive to maintain a car. A .
  5. 5
    It's not safe to eat this meat. This .
  6. 6
    It's easy to get to my house from here. My .
65.2

Make sentences from the words in brackets.

  1. 1
    I couldn't answer the question.
    (difficult question / answer) It .example
  2. 2
    It's a very common mistake.
    (easy mistake / make) It's .
  3. 3
    I like living in this town.
    (great place / live) It's .
  4. 4
    I wonder why she said that.
    (strange thing / say) It .
65.3

Complete the sentences. Choose from the box.

to hearto helpto inviteto makenotof yousillyamazedglad
  1. 1
    It's nice of Dan and Kate me to their party.example
  2. 2
    I've been travelling a long time. Now I'm to be back home.
  3. 3
    I heard about Tom's accident. I was relieved that he's OK.
  4. 4
    It was nice to remember my birthday.
  5. 5
    Let me know if you need any assistance. I'd be very pleased you.
  6. 6
    I thought James was about 25. I was to discover he was 40.
  7. 7
    It was inconsiderate of our neighbours so much noise.
  8. 8
    My interview went well. I was disappointed to be offered the job.
  9. 9
    It's of me to worry so much about things that are not important.
65.4

Complete the sentences. Use: the first the second the last the only

the firstthe secondthe lastthe only
  1. 1
    Nobody spoke before me.
    I was person to speak.example
  2. 2
    Everybody else arrived before Paul.
    Paul was (person) to arrive.
  3. 3
    Emily passed the exam. All the other students failed.
    Emily was student to pass (the exam). / … the only one to pass (the exam).
  4. 4
    I complained to the manager. Another customer had already complained.
    I was customer/person to complain.
  5. 5
    Neil Armstrong walked on the moon in 1969. Nobody had done this before him.
    Neil Armstrong was person/man to walk on the moon.
65.5

Complete the sentences using the words in brackets and a suitable verb.

  1. 1
    Carla is a very good student.
    (she / bound / pass) She's bound to pass the exam. example
  2. 2
    I'm not surprised you're tired after your trip.
    (you / bound / tired) after such a long journey.
  3. 3
    Andy has a very bad memory.
    (he / sure / forget) anything you tell him.
  4. 4
    I don't think you'll need an umbrella.
    (it / not / likely / rain) .
  5. 5
    The holidays begin this weekend.
    (there / sure / be) a lot of traffic on the roads.