OXFORD PRACTICE GRAMMAR
67 ADJECTIVE + TO-INFINITIVE

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 (see Unit 68).
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

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4
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3 Certain, sure and likely (D)
Complete the conversation. Make sentences from the notes in brackets.
Nick: Are you going to Mike and Harriet's party?
Tom: Yes, I am. (►) It's sure to be a good party (it / sure / be / a good
party).
Nick: Will there be a lot of people there?
Tom: Yes, (1)
……………………………………………………………………………..(it
/ likely / be / pretty crowded).
Nick: Has Rita been invited, do you know?
Tom: Oh, (2)
...........................................................................................................................
....... (she / certain / be / there).
Nick: I don't know that part of town. Is the house easy to find?
Tom: No, it isn't. Take a map or (3)
..........................................................…………………..(you / unlikely / find /
it).
4 For and of (E)
Vicky and Rachel are talking about two students they know called Gary and
Steve.
Complete the conversation. Put in for or of.
Vickv: I can't believe that Gary and Steve had a fight in a pub. Don't you
think that was very foolish
(►)of them?
Rachel: Yes, it was especially stupid (1).................them to quarrel about