Preparatory it and adjectives with to
I find it hard to relax, she made it clear that, easy to use, the first to arrive: it in front, the details after.
Not sure B2 is your level? Find out in 8–40 questions, no account needed.
English doesn't like to start a sentence with a long subject, and it doesn't like to leave a gap where the object should be. So it puts it in that place and gives the real information later: It is important to book early. I find it hard to relax. At A1 you met It's difficult to find a flat here. This page adds it as an object, and some patterns with an adjective or a noun + to.
Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
it + be + adjective + to / that | It's important to book early. |
verb + it + adjective + to | I find it hard to relax. |
verb + it + clear + that | She made it clear that she was upset. |
noun + be + adjective + to | This book is easy to read. |
the first / last / only + to | She was the first to arrive. |
It as the subject: it's important to
When the subject would be a to + verb or a that clause, we usually start with it and put the long part at the end. To book early is important is possible, but it sounds formal and unusual.
- It's important to check the times before you go.
- It's a pity that you can't come.
- It was kind of you to help us.
(With adjectives about a person's behaviour, like kind, nice, silly, use of + person.)
- It's no use complaining. Nobody will listen.
The same works with seem, appear and take: It seems that nobody knows. It takes me an hour to get to work.
It as the object: find it hard to
After find, make, think, consider + an adjective, English needs it as the object before the to + verb or the that clause. Don't leave it out.
- I find it hard to concentrate when it's noisy.
- The rain made it impossible to drive.
- Many people consider it rude to ask about money.
- Incorrect: I find difficult to get up early in winter.
- Correct: I find it difficult to get up early in winter.After find, put it before the adjective.
- Incorrect: The noise made impossible to sleep.
- Correct: The noise made it impossible to sleep.
Make it clear that
Make it clear (that) + a clause means "say something so that nobody can misunderstand". Make it clear also works with to + person.
- The manager made it clear that nobody could leave early.
- She made it clear to me that she wasn't interested.
- I want to make it clear that this is not your fault.
Make clear that, without it, is also used, mostly in formal writing and the news. In speech, use make it clear.
Like it, hate it, appreciate it
After like, love, hate and can't stand, it often goes before a when or if clause. I'd appreciate it if is a polite way to ask for something.
- I hate it when people talk during a film.
- She loves it when it snows.
- I'd appreciate it if you could reply by Friday.
- Incorrect: I'd appreciate if you could call me back.
- Correct: I'd appreciate it if you could call me back.Appreciate needs an object: appreciate it if.
Easy to use: adjective + to
After some adjectives, a to + verb tells us what is easy, hard or nice to do with the subject. The subject is the object of the verb, so don't add another object at the end.
- This phone is easy to use.
- His accent is difficult to understand.
- The soup was too hot to eat.
- Incorrect: This question is difficult to answer it.
- Correct: This question is difficult to answer.The question is already the object of answer, so there is no it at the end.
Both orders are correct: This question is difficult to answer. = It's difficult to answer this question.
The first, the last, the only + to
After the first, the second, the last, the next and the only, a to + verb can replace a relative clause. It is shorter and very common.
- She was the first to arrive and the last to leave.
(She was the first person who arrived and the last person who left.)
- He's the only one to have finished the test.
- Who was the first man to walk on the moon?
- Incorrect: He was the last leaving the office.
- Correct: He was the last to leave the office.After the last, use to + verb, not -ing.