The Prepositional Infinitive Complex

Exercise 406. Сomment on the use of the for-to-infinitive construction:

1. I’m watching for someone to serve me.

2. At the station there were trolleys for passengers to put their luggage on.

3. We arranged for someone to look after the house.

4. Fiona was longing for her parcel to arrive.

5. It’s difficult for untrained people to find work.

6. We brought some toys for the children to play with.

7. For the diet to work properly, you have to follow it very strictly.

8. It’s dangerous for children to play near the railway line.

Exercise 407. Write the sentences as one. Use a for-to-infinitive phrase as subject.

Model: Everyone must play their part. It’s important.

It’s important for everyone to play their part.

1. Children shouldn’t play with matches. It’s dangerous.

It’s dangerous ……………………………………………………..

2. The taxi is coming at eight o’clock. Phil has arranged it.

Phil has …………………………………………………………….

3. The party should begin soon. This is impatient.

We ……………………………………………………...................

4. People should know the truth. It’s important.

It …………………………………………………………………...

Exercise 408. Replace the following groups of sentences by a sentence with a for-phrase subject.

Model: He won't catch the train. It's impossible.

It is impossible for him to catch the train.

1. She explained everything. It was not difficult. 2. She managed to do it in time. But it was quite an effort. 3. Don't make mistakes. It's important. 4. Her mother made the decision. It's the usual thing in this family. 5. We ought to take a vacation now. It won't be difficult. 6. You'll speak English with her. It'll do you good. 7. She is very late. It's rather unusual. 8. You really ought to see a doctor. It will be best. 9. We'll spend a couple of weeks in Petersburg next June. It will be rather  pleasant.

Exercise 409. Complete the following sentences by adding for-phrases to them.

Model: It would be better (you; to stay in bed).

It would be better for you to stay in bed.

1. It's very important (children; to play outdoors). 2. It'll be best (she; to talk to the manager). 3. It might be just possible (you; to make him see the doctor). 4. It would be easy (I; to pretend). 5. It's very bad (boys; to smoke). 6. It's not (you; to carry that heavy bag).

Exercise 410. Complete the sentences by adding objective for-phrases to them.

1. She is out playing. The doctor does not think it’s necessary … 2. Under the circumstances I really think it best … 3. All right, I'll go. Why are you so anxious … 4. After a long telephone conversation with John we arranged … 5. He stood there with a bunch of flowers waiting … 6. The manager was very cross and said that he did not mean … 7. It's getting cold. It's bad for the children … 8. Have you brought something for me ... on the train? 9. There's simply nobody there for a young girl … . 10. I can't find a place for us … 11. Those are not the right people for you ... . 12. I have bought a few things for Tony... .

Too and enough We can use the pattern with for after too and enough. The road is too busy for the children to be able to cross safely. (… too busy...) The table was too small for all of us to sit round. The table was big enough for all of us to sit round. (… big enough …) The guide didn’t speak clearly enough for everyone to understand her.

Exercise 411. Replace the following pairs of sentences by sentences with adverbial for phrases of result.

Model: The street is very narrow. He won't be able to turn the car.

a) The street is too narrow for him to turn the car.

b) The street isn’t wide enough for him to turn the car.

1. The way to the village was long. I felt hungry again. 2. The heat was oppressive. We did not stay long on the beach. 3. The problem was comparatively easy. I solved it in half an hour. 4. The situation was getting complicated. We could no longer cope with it. 5. The conversation was interesting. The children did not want to go to bed. 6. The noise of the traffic grew loud. I could not sleep. 7. The light was good. She could read the inscription.

Exercise 412. Add a sentence with “too” or “enough” and: difficult, high, loud, warm.

Model: The boys couldn’t lift the piano.

It was too heavy for them to lift.

Melanie can’t understand the poem.

It isn’t big enough for her to read.

1. Mary can’t reach the top shelf.

2. We can’t understand the poem.

3. Not everyone could hear the music.

4. Mark couldn’t swim in the sea.

for or of 

We can use of after these adjectives describing people’s behavior:

good, nice, kind, helpful;

mean, generous; brave;

honest; clever, sensible;

silly, stupid, foolish, careless;

wrong; polite, rude.

It’s kind of your parents to give me a lift. (= Your parents are kind …) 

It was clever of you to work out the answer. (= You were clever …)

Compare: good of and good for in these two sentences:

a) It was good of you to go jogging with me. (= It was a kind action by you. I enjoy your company). 

b) It was good for you to go jogging with me. (= It was a good, healthy experience for you).

Exercise 413. Put in “for” or “of”.

Sally: It was good ______ Simon to help us clear away after the party.

Pat: Yes, it was kind _______ him.

Sally: It was honest _______ him to admit breaking that glass. But it wasn’t really necessary _______ him to pay for it.

Pat: He seemed very anxious ______ us to accept the money.

Exercise 414. Match the sentence pairs and rewrite them with for-to infinitive construction. Use a for-to-infinitive construction as an adverbial modifier of purpose.

N.B! We don’t use ‘it’ at the end of the clause.

Model: There’s a visitor’s book. Guests can write their names in it.

There’s a visitor’s book for guests to write their names in. (not “in it”).

1. There’s a visitor’s book.

2. There’s a pool.

3. There are tables.

4. There’s music.

5. There are gift shop.

1. You can listen to it.

2. You can picnic at them.

3. Tourists can buy souvenirs in them.

4. Guests can write their names in it.

5. Guests can swim in it.

There’s a visitor’s book for guests to write their names in.

1. ________________________________

2. ________________________________

3. ________________________________

4. ________________________________

Exercise 415. Translate the sentences into English.

1. Вам корисно їсти фрукти. 2. Мені легко зробити це сьогодні. 3. Їм буде простіше поїхати туди на метро. 4. Їй було б важко вирішити це завдання. 5. Нам було приємно знову зустріти наших друзів. 6. Нам буде корисно відпочити.7. Вам шкідливо стільки палити. 8. Їй було важко мовчати. 9. Не мені давати вам ради. 10. Не їм обговорювати це питання. 11. Машина їхала не так швидко, щоб я міг розглянути обличчя водія. 12. Вона говорила так повільно, щоб ми розуміли кожне слово. 15. У печері було так темно, що ми не змогли знайти вихід. 16. Я залишила листи на столі, щоб містер Пітерс підписав їх. 17. Вам необхідно бути тут завтра о 5 годині. 3. Нам важко зробити цю роботу за такий короткий термін. 4. Дітям зовсім нічого робити. 18. Їй дуже важко перевести цю статтю. 19. Дуже мило, що ви прийшли. 20. З його боку було неввічливо спізнюватися.