Adjectives with to-infinitives

Level: Intermediate-Advanced

The to-infinitives are typically used after some adjectives:

able                       She will be able to cope with her current situation at home.

unable                  She was unable to make it on time for her flight.

anxious                 Alex is anxious to open his presents.

due                        The wedding is due to be held next spring.

eager                    Everyone on the team seemed very eager to meet their new coach.

keen                      Mary was very keen to start working on the new project as soon as possible.

likely                      I’m likely to forget to take my medicine so please do remind me.

unlikely                 It’s unlikely to rain today. It is very sunny.

ready                    She is ready to deliver her speech in the assembly tomorrow.

prepared             Are we prepared to suffer the consequences of global warming?

willing                   If you’re willing to travel a lot for work, then the job is yours.

unwilling              Her friends are unwilling to lend her some cash.

The to-infinitives are likewise used when telling a reason for the adjective:

amazed                We are often amazed to see that these creatures really do exist.

delighted             I’m delighted to do this favor for you.

disappointed     She was quite disappointed to find out she didn’t get her dream role.

glad                        The students are glad to have finished the semester.

happy                   They are happy to come to an agreement.

pleased                 Ella’s grandparents are delighted to know that she’s staying with them.

proud                    His therapist is proud to say that he helped him a lot with his rehabilitation.

relieved               The whole family is relieved to know he is out of danger after his brain surgery.

sad                         They were all sad to hear he had left his job.

sorry                     Her son was so sorry to disappoint her.

surprised             My mother was surprised to see me cleaning my room.

unhappy              She seemed unhappy to be leaving her current post as their team leader.

It + be followed by an adjective is used when expressing opinions:

clever                    They thought it was clever to park by the side of the road, but it wasn’t.

difficult                 It happened so fast that it was impossible to see her attacker.

easy                       It’s easy to use this program, but it’s very difficult to learn at first.

foolish                  Luke thinks it’s foolish to save money for the future.

hard                       With this much information, it is hard to finish the data entry quickly.

kind                       It’s kind to lend your ear to someone who is going through a tough time.

nice                        It would be nice to go back to my hometown this weekend.

possible               It’s possible to ask your boss for a pay raise.

impossible          It’s quite impossible to hear what she’s saying with all this noise.

right                       It is only right to stand up against bullies.

wrong                   It is wrong to say mean things to your friends.

silly                         His wife thinks it is silly not to accept this job offer.

The to-infinitives are also used with the following adjectives when expressing opinions about people:

clever                    It was clever of them to come up with this concept.

foolish                  It was foolish of her to refuse such an offer.

kind                       It is kind of her to volunteer at their local retirement home.

nice                        It’s nice of them to help out.

right                       It would be right of him to go on this trip.

wrong                   It was wrong of them to take the bribe.

silly                         It was silly of the dog to eat the chocolates on the countertop.

The preposition for is used when demonstrating who is being referred to by these adjectives:

difficult                 It was difficult for them to hear about their mother’s illness.

easy                       It is easy for her boss to manage the team.

hard                       It was hard for him to admit his mistakes.

possible               It is possible for us to fail on this mission again.

Impossible          It was impossible for him to pay his debts.

The preposition of is used for other adjectives:

It’s sweet of you to remember my birthday.

It would be irresponsible of him to drink and drive.