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oxford_guide_to_english_grammar

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PAGE 157<br />

126 For and of with a <strong>to</strong>-infinitive<br />

We can use many adjectives in this pattern, for example:<br />

anxious eager marvellous silly<br />

awful easy necessary stupid<br />

better/best essential nice terrible<br />

cheap expensive ready willing<br />

convenient important reluctant wonderful<br />

dangerous keen safe wrong<br />

difficult<br />

3 Patterns with <strong>to</strong>o and enough<br />

Before the for pattern, we can use <strong>to</strong>o or enough with a quantifier, adjective or<br />

adverb.<br />

There's <strong>to</strong>o much work for you <strong>to</strong> finish <strong>to</strong>day.<br />

The kitchen is <strong>to</strong>o small for the whole family <strong>to</strong> eat in.<br />

The light wasn't shining brightly enough for anyone <strong>to</strong> notice it.<br />

4 The pattern It's a good idea for you <strong>to</strong> finish<br />

It's a good idea for you <strong>to</strong> finish the course and get a qualification.<br />

It's a nuisance for <strong>to</strong>urists <strong>to</strong> have <strong>to</strong> get visas.<br />

We can use some nouns, e.g. advantage, demand, disadvantage, disaster, idea,<br />

mistake, nuisance, plan.<br />

NOTE<br />

We can also use some nouns related <strong>to</strong> the verbs and adjectives in Patterns 1 and 2.<br />

I've made arrangements for someone <strong>to</strong> take pho<strong>to</strong>s.<br />

He couldn't hide his anxiety for the matter <strong>to</strong> be settled.<br />

5 The pattern It's nice of you <strong>to</strong> finish<br />

It's nice of you <strong>to</strong> finish the job for me.<br />

It was rude of your friend not <strong>to</strong> shake hands.<br />

It was clever of Tina <strong>to</strong> find that out.<br />

We can use adjectives expressing personal qualities, e.g. brave, careless, clever,<br />

foolish, generous, good, helpful, honest, intelligent, kind, mean, nice, polite, rude,<br />

sensible, silly, stupid, wrong.<br />

NOTE<br />

Compare these sentences.<br />

It was nice of Tom <strong>to</strong> take the dog for a walk.<br />

(Nice expressing a personal quality: it was a kind action by Tom.)<br />

It was nice for Tom <strong>to</strong> take the dog for a walk.<br />

(It was a pleasant experience for Tom.)<br />

6 For expressing purpose<br />

There are telephones for drivers <strong>to</strong> call for help if they break down.<br />

For plants <strong>to</strong> grow properly, you have <strong>to</strong> water them regularly.

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