65. Adjective + To … ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

                    ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

65. Adjective + To …

A	Difficult to understand etc. Compare sentences (a) and (b): Sentences (a) and (b) have the same meaning. Note that we say: ·         He is difficult to understand. (not He is difficult to understand him.) You can use the same structures with: easy nice safe cheap exciting impossible hard good dangerous expensive interesting ·         Do you think it is safe (for us) to drink this water? Do you think this water is safe (for us) to drink? (not to drink it) ·         The questions in the exam were very difficult. It was impossible to answer them. The questions in the exam were very difficult. 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.) You can also use this structure with adjective+ noun: ·         This is a difficult question (for me) to answer. (not to answer it)
B	Nice of (you) to ... You can say 'It's nice of somebody to do something': ·         It was nice of you to take me to the airport. Thank you very much. You can use many other adjectives in this way. For example: kind generous silly stupid (in) considerate mean careless unfair ·         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. You can use many other adjectives in this way. For example: glad surprised amazed disappointed pleased relieved sad ·         Was Julia surprised to see you? ·         It was a long and tiring journey. We were glad to get home.
D	The first /the next (etc.)+ to ... You can use to ... after the first/second/third etc., and also after the last /the next /the only ... : ·         If I have any more news, you will be the first (person) to know. ·         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.
E	You can say that something is sure/certain/likely/bound to happen: ·         Carla is a very good student. She's bound to pass the exam. (= she is sure to pass) ·         I'm likely to get home late tonight. (= I will probably get home late)

EXERCISES

65.1	(Section A) Write these sentences in another way, beginning as shown. 1 It's difficult to understand him He _____ is difficult to understand.______________ 2 It's easy to use this machine. The machine is ____________________ 3 It was very difficult to open the window. The window ____________________ 4 It's impossible to translate some words. Some words ____________________ 5 It's expensive to maintain a car. A ____________________ 6 It's not safe to stand on that chair. That ____________________
65.2	(Section A) Complete the second sentence. Use the adjective in brackets and to ... as in the example. 1 I couldn't answer the question. (difficult) It was a ___difficult question to answer. _______ 2 Everybody makes that mistake. (easy) It’s an ____________________________ 3 I like living in this place. (nice) It’s a ____________________________ 4 We enjoyed watching the game. (good) It was a ____________________________
65.3	(Section B) Make a new sentence beginning It .... Use one of these adjectives each time: careless inconsiderate kind nice 1 Sue has offered to help me. ____It’s kind of Sue to offer to help me._____ 2 You make the same mistake again and again. It _________________________________________ 3 Dan and jenny invited me to stay with them. _________________________________________ 4 The neighbours make so much noise. _________________________________________
65.4	(Section C) Use the following words to complete these sentences: I/ sorry/ hear I/ glad/ hear pleased/ meet we/ surprised/ see 1 ______ I’m sorry to hear ______ that your mother isn't well. I hope she gets better soon. 2 I got your message. ________________ that you're keeping well. 3 ________________ Paula at the party last night. We didn't expect her to come. 4 'Tom, this is Chris. 1 'Hi Chris________________ you.’
65.5	(Section D) Complete the second sentence using the words in brackets+ to .... 1 Nobody spoke before me. (the first) ___I was the first person to speak. ____ 2 Everybody else arrived before Paul. (the last) Paul was the _____________________________________ 3 Emily passed the exam. All the other students failed. (the only) Emily was _____________________________________ 4 I complained to the restaurant manager about the service. Another customer had already complained. (the second) I was _____________________________________ 5 Neil Armstrong walked on the moon in 1969. Nobody had done this before him. (the first) Neil Armstrong was _____________________________________
65.6	(Section E) Complete these sentences using the words in brackets and a suitable verb. 1 Carla is a very good student. She ____is bound to pass _____ the exam. (bound) 2 I’m not surprised you're tired. After such a long journey you ____________tired. (bound) 3 Andy has a very bad memory. He ____________what you t ell him. (sure) 4 I don't think you need to take an umbrella. It ____________ .(not likely) 5 The holidays begin this weekend. There ____________ a lot of traffic on the roads. (likely)

ANSWER KEY