Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 65 · B1

Adjective + to ...

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.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 25 minutes

In this lesson

hard to understand, interesting to talk toA3 screens of questions
nice of you to ...B1 screen of questions
sorry to ..., surprised to ...C2 screens of questions
the first to ..., the only one to ...D1 screen of questions
sure / likely / bound to ...E1 screen of questions

Point A of 5

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.

Point A · Exercise 65.1 · part 1 of 2

Write each sentence in another way, beginning with the words given.

  1. Example

    It's hard to read some maps. (Some maps ...)

    Some maps are hard to read.

    AnswerSome maps are hard to read.

  2. It was difficult to start the lawnmower. (The lawnmower ...)

  3. It's impossible to forget some songs. (Some songs ...)

  4. It's expensive to heat a big house. (A big house ...)

  5. It isn't safe to drink this milk. (This milk ...)

Point A · Exercise 65.1 · part 2 of 2

Write each sentence in another way, beginning with the words given.

  1. It's easy to find our street from the station. (Our street ...)

Point A · Exercise 65.2

Make a sentence from the words in brackets.

  1. Example

    I had no idea how to reply. (tricky question / answer)

    It was a tricky question to answer.

    AnswerIt was a tricky question to answer.

  2. Lots of people get this wrong. (easy mistake / make)

  3. We love working in this office. (nice place / work)

  4. I don't know why he did that. (odd thing / do)

Point B of 5

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.

Point B · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with of and the person, then to + verb.

  1. You fed my cat while I was away. It was kind that. (you / do)

  2. Dan left his wallet on the bus. It was careless it there. (him / leave)

  3. They blamed you for everything. It was unfair that. (them / do)

Point C of 5

sorry to ..., surprised to ...

adjective + to ... also describes a person's reaction to something.

Adjectives that work like this 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.

Point C · Exercise 65.3 · part 1 of 2

Complete each sentence with a word or phrase from the box.

Use these

amazedgladnotof yousillyto hearto helpto inviteto make

  1. Example

    It's kind of the Hendersons to invite us round for Sunday dinner.

    AnswerIt's kind of the Hendersons to invite us round for Sunday dinner.

  2. I've been working abroad for six months. I'm to be back in Sheffield.

  3. I heard about the fire at the shop. I was relieved that nobody was hurt.

  4. It was very thoughtful to send me a card.

  5. If you need anything moving, just ask. I'd be happy you.

Point C · Exercise 65.3 · part 2 of 2

Complete each sentence with a word or phrase from the box.

Use these

amazedgladnotof yousillyto hearto helpto inviteto make

  1. I thought the old café had closed years ago. I was to find it still open.

  2. It was rude of the people upstairs so much noise at three in the morning.

  3. I thought the audition had gone well. I was disappointed to get a call back.

  4. It's of me to get upset about such a small thing.

Point D of 5

the first to ..., the only one to ...

to ... can follow the first, the second, the next, the last, the only and so on.

The first to know = the first person who knows.

  • 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.

Point D · Exercise 65.4

Write a sentence using the first, the second, the last or the only.

  1. Example

    Nobody arrived before me. (I was ...)

    I was the first person to arrive.

    AnswerI was the first person to arrive.

  2. Everybody else left the party before Siobhan. (Siobhan was ...)

  3. Ravi got the answer right. Everyone else in the class got it wrong. (Ravi ...)

  4. I rang the council about the potholes. My neighbour had already rung them. (I ...)

  5. Amy Johnson flew solo from Britain to Australia in 1930. No woman had done this before her. (Amy Johnson ...)

Point E of 5

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.

Point E · Exercise 65.5

Complete each sentence using the words in brackets and a suitable verb.

  1. Example

    Leah has rehearsed for weeks. She's bound to get (she / bound / get) the part.

    AnswerLeah has rehearsed for weeks. She's bound to get the part.

  2. No wonder you can't keep your eyes open. (you / bound / be) tired after a night shift.

  3. Don't give Jack the tickets to look after. (he / sure / lose) them.

  4. You won't need your gloves. (it / not / likely / be) cold today.

  5. It's the first day of the sales. (there / sure / be) long queues outside the shops.

Lesson 65 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: to ... (afraid to do) and preposition + -ing (afraid of -ing)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. hard to understand, interesting to talk to–Not checkedB. nice of you to ...–Not checkedC. sorry to ..., surprised to ...–Not checkedD. the first to ..., the only one to ...–Not checkedE. sure / likely / bound to ...–Not checked