Grammar-Quizzes › Verb Phrases › Verb Complements › Infinitives › "It is" Adj / Noun + Infinitive
"It is" Adj + Infinitive
Express opinion or advice
It (be) Adj + Infinitve Clause vs. Gerund Clause (be) Adj
| INFINITIVE CLAUSE | ||
|---|---|---|
The expression "It is + adj/noun to" emphasizes information by bringing it to the front of the clause. The subject of an infinitive clause is optionally expressed as [for + noun] or the accusative pronoun [for + pronoun]. |
||
| MAIN CLAUSE | SUBORD | COMPLEMENT |
| "IT" IS + ADJ | "FOR" PRN | INFINITIVE CLS |
It's difficult |
for me |
to guess what will happen. |
It's hard |
|
to know when a rat will get loose. |
It's impossible |
for us |
to do this project in 24 hours |
It's important |
|
to take a break twice a day. |
It's possible |
for you |
to work on your own project. |
It's exciting |
for us |
to be here. |
It's likely |
for it |
to get cold in the laboratory. |
| "IT IS" + NP | "FOR" PRN | INFINITIVE CLS |
It's a good idea (noun) |
|
to put on your lab coat. |
It's a pleasure (noun) |
for us |
to have you here. |
It's an honor (noun) |
for us |
to work in this lab. |
| GERUND CLAUSE | |
|---|---|
A similar meaning is expressed with a gerund clause followed by [be] + adj / noun. ¹ However, the clause cannot be restated with a gerund clause when "it" refers to climate or weather. |
|
| SUBJECT | PREDICATE |
| GERUND CLS | "BE" ADJ |
Guessing what will happen. |
is difficult. |
Knowing when a rat will get loose. |
is hard. |
Doing this project in 24 hours |
is impossible. |
Taking a break twice a day. |
is important |
Working on your own project. |
is possible. |
Being here |
is exciting |
¹ Getting cold in the laboratory. |
is likely. |
| GERUND CLS | "BE" + NP |
Putting on your lab coat |
is a good idea. |
Having you here |
is a pleasure. |
Working in this lab |
is an honor. |
Past tense "It was + adj…"
¹ The clause cannot be restated with a gerund clause when "it" refers to climate or weather.
Also see It as Subject , It Clefts and It /There Pronouns
Word Categories: N – Noun; V – Verb; Aux – Auxiliary; Adj – Adjective; Adv – Adverb; P –Preposition; Det –Determiner.
Phrasal Categories: NP – Noun Phrase; VP – Verb Phrase; AdjP – Adjective Phrase; AdvP – Adverb Phrase; PP – Prepositional Phrase; DP – Determinative Phrase.
Clausal Categories: Cls – clause; F – finite clause; NF – nonfinite clause (Ger – gerund; Inf – infinitive; PPart – past participle).
Word Functions: Subj – subject; Pred – predicate/predicator; Comp – complement: elements required by an expression to complete its meaning (DO – direct object; IO – indirect object); Adjunct – adjunct: elements not required by an expression to complete its meaning (Subord – subordinator; Coord – coordinator); Supl – supplement: a clause or phrase added onto a clause that is not closely related to the central thought or structure of the main clause.
Related pages:
There in Subject Position — Milk is on the table. → There is milk on the table.
It as Subject Placeholder — That he is very funny is obvious. → It is obvious that he is very funny.
"It is" + Adj + Infin — Finding the answers is hard. → It is hard to find the answers.
"It seems" / "It occurs" / "It is likely" — It seems odd to me that he didn't say anything.
"It takes" + Infinitive — To get ready takes ten minutes. → It takes ten minutes to get ready.
"Identifying 'be'" — Rain is there. There is rain; Reciprocal Property (A + B = B + A)
It / This Reference — Gizmo developed a new app. It is amazing. Gizmo managed to develop a new app. This is amazing.
It Clefts (extraposition) — What he said was amazing. It was amazing what he said.
It is [adjective] that… / for you to…
Restating a that-clauses as an infinitive clause
It is adjective that… / It is adjective for you to…
| IT (ADJ) THAT + SUBJUNCTIVE VERB CLAUSE | ||
|---|---|---|
It's + adj can be followed by that + a clause with should or a subjunctive verb to express a wish, recommendation or suggestion. The subject is mentioned in the clause. |
||
| IT (BE) ADJ | THAT | SUBJUNCTIVE CLS |
It is important |
that |
you be careful at all times. |
It is a good idea (noun!) |
that |
Jack close all cages at night. |
It is essential |
that |
it go well. |
It's not necessary |
that |
they work until 3 a.m. |
It is rare |
that |
we wear lab coats. |
| IT (ADJ) FOR + INFINITIVE CLAUSE | ||
|---|---|---|
A similar meaning is expressed with It's + adj followed by an infinitive clause. The subject (doer of the activity) in the infinitive clause can be included [for+ noun / pronoun]. |
||
| IT (BE) ADJ | FOR PRN | INFINITIVE CLS |
It is important |
for you |
to be careful at all times. |
It is a good idea |
for Jack |
to close all cages at night. |
It is essential |
for it |
to go well. |
It's not necessary |
for them |
work until 3 a.m. |
It is rare |
for us |
to wear lab coats. |
Infinitive Clause | Imperative Clauses (subjunctive) | "Order" + Obj + Infin
It [adjective] that… (list)
Commenting on observations and facts
It… that Pattern List
a fact |
obvious |
surprising |
unfair |
a well-known fact |
apparent |
strange |
too bad |
a little-known fact |
clear |
transparent |
unfortunate |
true |
a blessing |
a shame |
a pity |
It [adjective] for you to… (list)
Commenting on observations and facts
It…for
advisable |
dangerous |
difficult |
easy |
essential |
exciting |
a good idea (noun) |
good manners (noun!) |
hard |
impolite |
important |
likely (climate, temperature) |
logical |
necessary |
not easy |
not so hard |
rare |
rude |
smart |
wrong |
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
Error and Solution
| ERROR |
|---|
*It's kind for you to do that. (not used) |
*It's likely for you to come with us. |
*It's important that they fixed it then because it was a big problem for them. |
| SOLUTION |
|---|
It's kind of you to do that. |
It is likely that you will come with us. It's likely to rain today. |
It was important that they fixed it then because it was a big problem for them. |
*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Pop-Q "Kind"
Practice
Make the Effort to Speak the Language!
Complete the expression.
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check" or the "Check 1-10" button.
Practice 2
Reviews of a New Product
Read for Errors
What do you think of this new tablet?
It's surprising see that it is so light and clear.
It's hard for me understanding how it works.
It is exciting to see such an interesting design.
It's logical for everyone to use.
It's unfortunate it shows finger prints.
It amusing look right through it as you work.
It's hard to figuring out where the battery is.
It's no necessary to recharge the external battery every night because it lasts a long time.
It's important that they selected strong glass.
It is likely to appeal to a lot of people. I think it will be a "hot" item.
appeal (V) – to be especially attractive, pleasing, interesting, or enjoyable
external (Adj) – outside not inside of something
figure out (verb phrase) – guess, imagine, understand
finger prints (n) – (dirty) marks left after touching it
a hot item (expression) – something that is popular and in demand
right (adv.) – directly
Correct or Incorrect?
- Select a response correct or incorrect.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check" or the "Check 11-20" button.
Practice 2
Suggestions for Visiting a City
Read
Going to a new city is exciting, and taking a tour is especially convenient for travelers. A tour will help you see a number of attractions in a relatively short time and will include professional guides who are trained to provide interesting historical details and stories for whatever site you are visiting.
Going through a museum is a good idea. Your guide will give you background information so that you will be able to appreciate and enjoy what you are seeing. Tipping your guide is an expected courtesy.
Travelers often worry about finding a safe, clean place to stay. However, finding a good place to stay is not so hard. If you buy a guidebook such as Frommer's or Michelein, you will find good advice. You will also find recommendations for restaurants. Tasting new food is a pleasure.
One thing that travelers often forget is comfort. Be sure to balance comfort with fashion. Taking an extra pair of shoes with you is smart.
You will enjoy walking through the street markets. Bargaining for a good price is fun. You'll find lots of things you will want. Buying small items is important because fitting extra things into your baggage is often difficult. If you buy a few small things, you will have gifts for friends and some souvenirs of your trip. Having a memorable vacation is essential. Your memories will help get you through the long year ahead until your next chance to take a vacation comes.
background information – general and specific details to improve understanding
courtesy (N) – good manners or social conduct; polite behavior.
especially (adv.) – very, particularly
traveler (US-Eng) / traveler (Br-Eng) – a person who travels, goes to distant places
Change the focus from the activity to the speaker's opinion or advice about the activity. Use "It (be)" in your response.
- Edit the sentence(s) in the text box.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check" or the "Check 21-30" button.