Infinitive clauses with impersonal it
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].
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| MAIN CLAUSE | SUBORD | COMPLEMENT |
| "IT" IS + ADJ | "FOR" PRN | INFINITIVE CLS |
It's difficult
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for me
|
to guess what will happen.
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It's hard
|
|
to know when a rat will get loose.
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It's impossible
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for us
|
to do this project in 24 hours
|
It's important
|
|
to take a break twice a day.
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It's possible
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for you
|
to work on your own project.
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It's exciting
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for us
|
to be here.
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It's likely
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for it
|
to get cold in the laboratory.
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| "IT IS" + NP | "FOR" PRN | INFINITIVE CLS |
It's a good idea (noun)
|
|
to put on your lab coat.
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It's a pleasure (noun)
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for us
|
to have you here.
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It's an honor (noun)
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for us
|
to work in this lab.
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Past tense "It was + adj…"
¹ The clause cannot be restated with a gerund clause when "it" refers to climate or weather.
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.
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.
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| IT (BE) ADJ | THAT | SUBJUNCTIVE CLS |
It is important
|
that
|
you be careful at all times.
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It is a good idea (noun!)
|
that
|
Jack close all cages at night.
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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].
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| 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.
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It is essential
|
for it
|
to go well.
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It's not necessary
|
for them
|
work until 3 a.m.
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It is rare
|
for us
|
to wear lab coats.
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