Commenting: 'to'-infinitive clauses after complements

3.149 There are several ways in which a 'to'-infinitive clause can be used after a complement to comment on someone or something in relation to an action.

commenting on behaviour 3.150 If you want to say that someone shows a particular quality when they do something, you can use a 'to'-infinitive after a descriptive complement.

Most people think I am brave to do this.

I think my father was a brave man to do what he did.

The complement can be an adjective, or it can be a noun group consisting of 'a' or 'an' followed by an adjective and a noun.

commenting on suitability 3.151 You can say that someone or something would do a particular task better than anyone or anything else by using a 'to'-infinitive clause after a complement.

He was absolutely the right man to go to Paris and negotiate.

She may be an ideal person to look after the children.

He is just the man to cool their reforming zeal.

The complement must be a noun group containing an adjective such as 'right', 'ideal', or 'best', or 'just the' followed by the noun 'person', 'man', or 'woman'. You cannot use adjectives as complements in constructions of this kind. For example, you can say, 'He was the ideal person to lead the expedition', but you cannot say, 'He was ideal to lead the expedition'.

Instead of a 'to'-infinitive clause, you can sometimes use a prepositional phrase beginning with 'for'. In this structure, an adjective can be used as the complement.

He's not the right man for it.

They are ideal for this job.

3.152 If you want to express your feeling about an event, you can use 'to'-infinitive clause after a complement.

It seemed such a terrible thing to happen.

The 'to'-infinitive consists of 'to' and an intransitive verb, usually 'happen'.

The complement must be a noun group consisting of 'a' or 'an', an adjective, and a noun. You cannot use an adjective alone in construction of this kind. For example, you can say 'It was a wonderful thing to happen', but you cannot say 'It was wonderful to happen'.

3.153 If you want to say that someone is willing or unwilling to do something, you can use a 'to'-infinitive clause after a complement.

They were willing to risk losing their jobs.

l am anxious to meet Mrs Burton-Cox.

She is eager to succeed.

He is unwilling to answer questions.

I was reluctant to involve myself in this private fight.

The complement must be an adjective such as 'willing' or 'unwilling'. You cannot use noun groups as complements in constructions of this kind. For example, you can say 'He was willing to come', but you cannot say 'He was a willing person to come'.

3.154 If you want to show your opinion of something by indicating what the experience of doing something to it is like, you can use a 'to'-infinitive clause after a complement.

Its flesh is particularly good to eat.

It's a nice thing to have.

It is a pleasant thing to remember.

She was easy to talk to.

The complement can be an adjective, or it can be a noun group consisting of 'a' or 'an' followed by an adjective and a noun.

Note that the 'to'-infinitive must be the 'to'-infinitive of a transitive verb or of an intransitive verb followed by a preposition.

3.155 If you want to show your opinion of an action, you can use a transitive 'to'-infinitive clause after a complement.

They thought this was a sensible thing to do.

This is a very foolish attitude to take.

The 'to'-infinitive is usually 'to do', 'to make', or 'to take'.

The complement must be a noun group consisting of 'a' or 'an', an adjective, and a noun. You cannot use an adjective alone in constructions of this kind. For example, you can say 'It was a silly thing to do', but you cannot say 'It was silly to do'.