Form of the to-infinitive after adjectives

Many adjectives can be followed by to-infinitives:

I'm pleased to meet you

Can you do me a favour?- I'd be glad to[compare > 16.17] Other infinitive forms [> 16.2] are possible, e.g. sorry to have missed you pleased to have been given this opportunity, nice to be sitting by the fire For contrasting negatives with adjectives [> 16.14].

16.27 Pattern 1: He was kind to help us.

We use this pattern and its variations (see below) when we are praising or criticizing people. (Not all adjectives in this pattern combine with / or we.) The subject of the main verb (be) and the subject of the infinitive are the same person, and sometimes we can express the same idea with an adverb [> 7.16.2]:

He was very kind to help us He very kindlyhelped us Here are some adjectives which are used in this pattern: brave careless, but not careful [> 16.28], clever foolish generous good (un)kind polite right/wrong, rude, (un)selfish silly, wicked [> App 44].

16.27.1 Subject + 'be' + adjective + to-infinitive

The government would be brave to call an election now

Joan was foolish not to accept their offer Variations on this pattern with some of the adjectives listed above are possible with so as to (which is formal) and, less formally, with enough:

Would you be so good as to let me knowas soon as possible?

Would you be good enough to let me knowas soon as possible?

Adjective + to-infinitive

16.27.2 'It' + 'be' + adjective + 'of noun/pronoun + to-infinitive

This use of It as 'preparatory subject' [> 4.13] is much more common than a personal subject. It occurs with all the adjectives listed in 16.27 above and with some -ing adjectives like annoying, boring, trying. If it is obvious who is referred to, the of-phrase can be omitted:

It was kind of her to help us

It was silly (of us) to believe him

It was most selfish of him not to contribute anything

It was annoying of John to lose my keys Verbs like seem/look [> 10.23-25] can be used in this pattern:

It would look rude to refuse their invitation

16.27.3 Adjective + to-infinitive in exclamations

Exclamations in this pattern are very common: How kind of him to help us! Wasn't he kind to helpus! Wasn't it kind (of him) to helpus!

16.28 Pattern 2:He is eager to please.

As in Pattern 1, the subject of the main verb (be or sometimes feel,

look, etc.) and the subject of the infinitive are the same person. When

using this pattern, we are often concerned with people's feelings

about an action or situation, and I/we fit naturally. There is no

alternative structure with It. Here are some adjectives which are used

in this pattern: afraid, anxious, ashamed, careful, but not careless [>

16.27], curious, determined, due, eager, fit, free, frightened, glad,

keen, prepared, quick, ready, reluctant, slow, sorry, willing [> App 44]:

He is always prepared to takea lot of trouble

She is determined not to offend her mother-in-law

For + noun/pronoun can be used after a very limited number of

adjectives, such as anxious, determined eager and keen, referring to

situations that have not yet occurred:

She's anxious for her daughter to win the competition

Very occasionally, this pattern has an inanimate subject:

My car is reluctant to start in cold weather

Our boiler is slow to get going in the mornings

A few adjectives referring to possibility and probability can be included here: bound/certain to, (un)hkely to and sure to:

He is bound/certain/likely/sure to signthe contract It can be used as a preparatory or empty subject [> 1.23.1, 4.12-13]:

It's certain/likely/unlikely that he'll sign the contract.

It's bound/sure to rain on our wedding day

16.29 Pattern 3:He is easy to please.

The infinitive in this pattern usually refers to things done to someone or something. The subject of the sentence is also the object of the infinitive; the It structure is very common here:

He is easy to please /It is easyto please himAdjectives like the following fit into this pattern: agreeable, amusing, boring, difficult, easy, hard, impossible, nice

She is amusing to be withPolyester is easy to iron

16 The infinitive and the '-ing' form

A negative infinitive (not to) is rare after he/she, but possible after it: It is impossible not to offendMrs Rumbold

16.30 Pattern 4: It is good to be here.

A very large number of adjectives fit into this pattern. The infinitive subject is normally replaced by it [compare > 16.47]:

To accept their offer would be foolish It would be foolish to

accept their offer

Not to accept their offer would be foolish It would be foolish not

to accept their offer Compare the uses of it in these two sentences:

Have a drive in my new car It (= the car) is easy to start

It ['preparatory subject', > 4.13] is easy to start it (the car) For + noun/pronoun can occur after many of these adjectives:

It won't be easy for Tomto find a new job The -ing form can occur after some of these adjectives [> 16.47]:

It is hard speakingin public A number of adjectives used in this pattern (e.g. advisable important necessary, vital) refer to advice, necessity, duties, and can also be followed by that, should [> 11.75.3]:

It's important to replyto her letter

It's important that we (should) replyto her letter

16.31 Pattern 5: He is the first to arrive.

The following can be used in this pattern: the first, the second, etc.;

the next/the last, and superlatives like the best, the most suitable.

These can be followed optionally by a noun or one(s):

She's always the first(guest) to arriveand the last to leave

Is a solicitor the best person to adviseme about buying a house?

The only must always be followed by a noun or one(s): You're the only person (the only one) to complain

16.32 Adjective patterns with 'too' and 'enough'

16.32.1 'Too' + adjective + to-infinitive

Too comes before the adjective and has the sense of 'excessive'; compare very, which merely strengthens the adjective [> 7.48]. In patterns with to-infinitives, too often combines negative ideas:

He isn't strong He can't lift it. -> He is too weak to liftit In the above example, the subject of the main verb is also the subject of the infinitive. In the following example, the subject of the main verb is the object of the infinitive:

He's too heavy I can t lift him-> He is too heavy (for me) to lift.Note the optional for-phrase, and note that we never put an object after the infinitive in sentences like this (Not 'This bread is too stale for me toeat it*).

Generally, -ed adjectives [> 6.15] have a personal subject + too:

I'm too tired to stay up longer and -ing adjectives have an impersonal subject + too:

The race was almost too exciting to watch

;

Noun + to-infinitive

5.32.2 Adjective + 'enough' + to-infinitive

Enough comes after the adjective and means, e.g. 'to the necessary

degree'. In to-infinitive patterns it combines two ideas: He's strong. He can lift it. He's strong enough to liftit He's weak. He can't liftit He isn't strong enough to liftit

In the above examples, the subjects of the main verb and of the

infinitive are the same. In the following example, the subject of the

main verb is the object of the infinitive:

The pear is ripe I can eat it.- It is ripe enough (for me) to eat

The for-phrase is optional and we do not repeat the object in this type

of sentence. (Not 'for me to eat it*).

For+ noun/pronoun can combine with too much/little, not enough etc.: The baby's too much for herto cope with There s too little work/not enoughwork for meto do

Noun + to-infinitive