065 : Adjective + to …

   A   

Difficult to understand etc.

 

Compare sentences (a) and (b):

• James doesn't speak very clearly.
  (a) It is difficult to understand him.
  (b) He is difficult to understand.

 

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    (in)considerate    generous    mean    careless    silly    stupid    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     pleased     relieved     surprised     amazed     sad     disappointed

• 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)

 

 

 

※ considerate : 

 

• She is always polite and considerate towards her employees.
• It was very considerate of him to wait.
• Louis was a kind, caring and considerate young man.
• Try to be a bit more considerate.

 

 

※ thoughtful : 

 

 

 

※ consider : 

 

• I'd like some time to consider.
• consider something

// She is considering her options.

• The company is being actively considered as a potential partner 

(= it is thought possible that it could become one).

• consider doing something

// Have you considered starting your own business?

• consider how/what, etc…

// We need to consider how the law might be reformed.

// He was considering what to do next.

• consider somebody/something for something

// We are considering her for the job of designer.

• consider somebody/something + noun

// I consider her a friend.

// The award is considered a great honour.

// He considers it his duty.

• consider somebody/something to be, have, etc. something

// She is widely considered to be the greatest player ever.

// Who do you consider to be responsible for the accident?

• consider somebody/something + adj.

// They will take any steps they consider necessary.

// Certain subjects were not considered appropriate for female artists.

• consider somebody/something as something

// You should consider this as a long-term investment.

• consider (that)…

// She considers that it is too early to form a definite conclusion.

• it is considered that…

// It is considered that the proposed development would create much-needed jobs.

 

 

※ considerable : 

 

 

 

※ generous : 

 

• generous with something // You've been incredibly generous with your time.
• generous to somebody // He was generous to his friends and family.
• generous in something // She was generous in her praise for her co-stars.
• generous in doing something // They were very generous in giving help
• it is generous of somebody // Thank you for your donation. It was very generous of you.
• it is generous of somebody to do something // It was extremely generous of him to offer to pay for us both.

 

 

※ mean : 

 

• She's always been mean with money.
• He's a mean man who never gives presents to anyone.
• Don't be so mean to your little brother.

 

 

※ silly : 

 

• a silly idea/question/name
• Her work is full of silly mistakes.
• a silly sense of humour
• a silly game
• I feel silly in these clothes.
• it is silly of somebody to do something // It would be silly of me to say no.

 

 

※ relieve : 

 

re + lieve(=lift) : (힘든 것을) 덜어주다.

 

 

※ bind : 

 

• bind somebody/something to something // She was bound to a chair.
• bind somebody/something together // They bound his hands together.
• bind somebody/something // He was left bound and gagged (= tied up and with a piece of cloth tied over his mouth).

 

• bind something (up) // She bound up his wounds.
• bind A (and B) (together) // Organizations such as schools and clubs bind a community together.

 

• bind somebody (to something) // He had been bound to secrecy (= made to promise not to tell people about something).
• bind somebody to do something // The agreement binds her to repay the debt within six months.

 

• bind something (in something) // two volumes bound in leather

 

 

※ bound : 

 

1. bound to do/be something : certain or likely to happen, or to do or be something

• There are bound to be changes when the new system is introduced.
• It's bound to be sunny again tomorrow.
• You've done so much work—you're bound to pass the exam.
• It was bound to happen sooner or later (= we should have expected it).
• These problems were almost bound to arise.

 

2. forced to do something by law, duty or a particular situation

• bound by something

// We are not bound by the decision.

// You are bound by the contract to pay before the end of the month.

• bound (by something) to do something (formal)

// I am bound to say I disagree with you on this point.

// They are legally bound to appear in court.