Adjective + to+infinitive

A Introduction

Rachel is having a driving lesson.

Rachel: It's great to be on the road. This car is easy to drive, isn't it?

Driving Instructor: It's important to look in the mirror sometimes. Don't forget to do that.

We can use a to+infinitive (e.g. to be) after an adjective (e.g. great).

B It is easy to drive the car

An adjective + to+infinitive often comes in this structure with it + be.

It's important to look in the mirror.

It's lovely to see you.

It's quite safe to use the ladder.

It was silly to make such a fuss.

The subject can also be a person.

I'm delighted to see you.

We're ready to start now.

C The car is easy to drive

Compare these two sentences. They both mean the same thing.

It is easy to drive the car. The car is easy to drive.

We do not use it in the second sentence.

NOT The car is easy to drive it and NOT The car it is easy to drive.

Here are some more examples.

Your writing is difficult to read.

A small car would be cheap to run.

The parade was fascinating to watch.

The ladder is quite safe to use.

We can use this structure with adjectives meaning 'good' or bad', e.g. awful, bad, exciting, fascinating, good, marvellous, nice, terrible, wonderful.

We can also use it with these adjectives: cheap, convenient, dangerous, difficult, easy, expensive, impossible, safe, simple.

D Certain, sure and likely

We can use a to+infinitive after certain, sure, likely and unlikely.

United are certain/sure to win. (They will certainly win.)

Sarah is likely to be at work. (She is probably at work.)

E For and of

After some adjectives we can use for + object + to+infinitive.

It's important for drivers to take care.

It isn't safe for children to play on ladders.

After an adjective describing how someone behaves (e.g. polite, silly), we can use of.

It was polite of Emma to write and thank us. (Emma was polite.)

It was silly of me to forget the tickets. (I was silly.)