B1 Gerunds & Infinitives 16 min read Leicht

Adjektiv + Infinitiv (Es ist einfach zu lernen)

Mit der Kombi aus „Adjektiv“ und „to-Infinitiv“ kannst du super natürlich ausdrücken, wie du über Handlungen denkst – für ein echtes „Feeling“ im Englisch.

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'to' + verb after adjectives to describe an action, express feelings, or give opinions about a task.

  • Use 'to' after adjectives of difficulty like 'easy' or 'hard' (It's easy to learn).
  • Use 'to' after adjectives of emotion like 'happy' or 'sad' (I'm happy to help).
  • Add 'not' before 'to' for negative sentences (It's important not to forget).
Subject + be + Adjective + ➡️ + to + Verb

Overview

Hast du schon mal versucht zu erklären, warum es so schwer ist, einen Film auf Netflix auszuwählen? Wahrscheinlich hast du ein bestimmtes Grammatikmuster benutzt, ohne darüber nachzudenken. Im Englischen verbinden wir oft unsere Gefühle oder Gedanken über eine Situation direkt mit einer Handlung.
Das machen wir, indem wir ein Adjektiv direkt neben einen to-infinitive setzen. Es ist eines dieser super vielseitigen Werkzeuge, die dich weniger wie ein Lehrbuch und mehr wie eine echte Person klingen lassen. Egal, ob du dich über ein laggy Game beschwerst oder einem Freund sagst, dass du dich freust, dass sein TikTok viral geht – dieses Muster ist dein bester Freund.
In dieser Regel geht es um Verbindung. Sie verbindet ein Adjektiv (ein beschreibendes Wort) mit einem Infinitiv (der to + verb-Form). Wir benutzen es, um zu beschreiben, wie einfach oder schwer etwas ist, wie wir uns bei einer Handlung fühlen oder um das Verhalten von jemandem zu beurteilen.

How This Grammar Works

Im Kern fungiert dieses Muster als Abkürzung. Anstatt zu sagen 'Ich bin glücklich, weil ich dich treffe', sagst du einfach I am happy to meet you. Einfach, oder? Das Adjektiv gibt die Stimmung vor, und der Infinitiv sagt uns, worum es bei der Stimmung geht.

Formation Pattern

1
Starte mit Subjekt und Verb: Benutze It is für allgemeine Aussagen oder I am / You are für Personen.
2
Füge dein Adjektiv hinzu: Wähle ein Wort, das ein Gefühl oder eine Qualität beschreibt.
3
Hänge den To-Infinitive an: Schließe mit to plus der Grundform des Verbs ab.

When To Use It

Dieses Muster taucht überall im modernen Leben auf. Benutze es, wenn du eine Bewertung abgibst: This game is fun to play. Benutze es, wenn du höflich bist: I’m sorry to bother you.

Common Mistakes

Die größte Falle ist das 'Gerund-Gespenst'. Viele Leute versuchen, die -ing-Form zu benutzen, weil es sich in anderen Sprachen natürlich anfühlt. Richtig: It is easy to learn English, NICHT 'It is easy learning English'.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Man kann das leicht mit der Struktur 'Adjektiv + Präposition + Gerundium' verwechseln. Der Hauptunterschied ist das gewählte Adjektiv. Manche Adjektive, wie interested, verlangen immer in + -ing.

Quick FAQ

F: Kann ich das mit jedem Adjektiv benutzen?

Meistens ja! Besonders mit solchen, die Gefühle, Schwierigkeiten oder Meinungen beschreiben.

Common Adjective + To-Infinitive Patterns

Subject Verb 'Be' Adjective Infinitive (to + verb) Example
It
is
easy
to learn
It is easy to learn.
I
am
happy
to help
I am happy to help.
They
were
surprised
to see
They were surprised to see us.
It
is
important
not to go
It is important not to go.
She
is
ready
to start
She is ready to start.
It
was
kind
to say
It was kind to say that.

Contractions in this Structure

Full Form Contraction Usage
It is easy
It's easy
Very common in speech
I am happy
I'm happy
Standard informal/neutral
It was not easy
It wasn't easy
Common in past tense

Meanings

This structure is used to provide more information about an adjective by following it with an infinitive verb. It often describes the difficulty, emotion, or necessity associated with an action.

1

Difficulty and Ease

Describing how hard or easy an action is to perform.

“It's hard to breathe in this heat.”

“The instructions were simple to follow.”

2

Emotional Reaction

Expressing how someone feels about doing something.

“I'm delighted to meet you.”

“She was surprised to see him there.”

3

Judgment and Character

Commenting on someone's behavior or character traits.

“It was kind of you to help.”

“It's rude to interrupt people.”

4

Necessity and Importance

Stating that an action is required or vital.

“It's important to arrive on time.”

“It is necessary to sign the form.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Adjektiv + Infinitiv (Es ist einfach zu lernen)
Adjektiv Bedeutung Example Sentence Focus
Easy
Nicht schwierig
It's `easy to learn` new words.
easy to learn
Hard
Schwierig, herausfordernd
It was `hard to solve` the puzzle.
hard to solve
Important
Wichtig, notwendig
It's `important to listen` carefully.
important to listen
Pleasant
Angenehm, schön
It's `pleasant to walk` in the park.
pleasant to walk
Impossible
Unmöglich zu tun
It's `impossible to predict` the future.
impossible to predict
Exciting
Spannend, anregend
It's `exciting to start` a new project.
exciting to start
Glad
Froh, erfreut
I'm `glad to see` you again.
glad to see

Formalitätsspektrum

Formell
It is quite straightforward to complete the application.

It is quite straightforward to complete the application. (Completing a task)

Neutral
It's easy to finish the form.

It's easy to finish the form. (Completing a task)

Informell
It's a breeze to do.

It's a breeze to do. (Completing a task)

Umgangssprache
It's a piece of cake to knock out.

It's a piece of cake to knock out. (Completing a task)

Adjektiv + To-Infinitiv: Dein Meinungs-Toolkit

Adjektiv + To-Infinitiv

Häufige Adjektive

  • Easy Nicht schwierig
  • Hard Schwierig
  • Important Notwendig
  • Happy Erfreut

Häufige Infinitive

  • to do eine Handlung ausführen
  • to understand Bedeutung erfassen
  • to say Wörter sprechen
  • to go weggehen

Hauptmuster

  • It's easy to use Allgemeine Meinung ausdrücken
  • She is happy to help Persönliches Gefühl ausdrücken

Was es bewirkt

  • Express Opinions Wie du über eine Handlung denkst
  • Describe Characteristics Wie eine Handlung ist

To-Infinitiv vs. Gerund nach Adjektiven

Korrekt: Adjektiv + To-Infinitiv
It's easy to learn. Die Handlung des Lernens ist einfach.
I'm happy to help. Ich freue mich, zu helfen.
This game is fun to play. Dieses Spiel zu spielen ist angenehm.
Inkorrekt: Adjektiv + Gerund
It's easy learning. Grammatisch falsch in diesem Kontext.
I'm happy helping. Impliziert einen kontinuierlichen Zustand des Helfens, andere Bedeutung.
This game is fun playing. Grammatisch falsch in diesem Kontext.

Sollte ich 'Adjektiv + To-Infinitiv' verwenden?

1

Drückst du eine Meinung oder ein Gefühl über eine HANDLUNG aus?

YES
Gehe zum nächsten Schritt
NO
Diese Regel passt möglicherweise nicht am besten. Ziehe andere Strukturen in Betracht.
2

Folgt die Handlung einem Adjektiv wie 'easy', 'hard', 'important', 'happy'?

YES
Verwende 'to-Infinitiv' (z.B. 'It's easy to learn')
NO
Prüfe, ob das Adjektiv eine andere Präposition oder Struktur erfordert.

Adjektive, die To-Infinitive lieben

🤔

Meinung/Eigenschaft

  • Easy
  • Hard
  • Difficult
  • Simple
  • Impossible
  • Possible
  • Good
  • Bad
  • Fun
  • Boring
  • Interesting
😊

Emotion/Gefühl

  • Happy
  • Glad
  • Sad
  • Pleased
  • Delighted
  • Excited
  • Surprised
  • Shocked
  • Upset
  • Angry
  • Disappointed

Notwendigkeit/Wichtigkeit

  • Important
  • Necessary
  • Essential
  • Crucial
  • Vital
  • Obligatory

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

I am happy to help you.

2

It is good to see you.

3

It is easy to read this.

4

She is sad to go.

1

It is important to drink water.

2

It is not easy to learn Chinese.

3

Are you ready to order?

4

It is dangerous to swim here.

1

It is difficult for me to speak in public.

2

It was very kind of you to invite us.

3

It is necessary to wear a helmet.

4

I was surprised to find the door open.

1

The results are likely to be positive.

2

It is vital not to underestimate the competition.

3

He is always the first to arrive at work.

4

The instructions are too complicated to follow.

1

It is imperative to address these issues immediately.

2

She was relieved to have finished the marathon.

3

It is quite common for students to feel overwhelmed.

4

The book is well worth the effort to read.

1

It is incumbent upon the board to ensure transparency.

2

The theory is far too abstract to be applied practically.

3

He was loath to admit that he had been mistaken.

4

It is seldom easy to reconcile such disparate views.

Leicht verwechselbar

Adjective + To-Infinitive (It's easy to learn) vs. Adjective + Preposition + Gerund

Learners often use 'to' when a specific preposition is required by the adjective.

Adjective + To-Infinitive (It's easy to learn) vs. Gerund as Subject

Both 'Learning is fun' and 'It is fun to learn' are correct, leading to choice paralysis.

Adjective + To-Infinitive (It's easy to learn) vs. Too/Enough + Adjective

Learners forget the 'to' after enough/too.

Häufige Fehler

It is easy learn.

It is easy to learn.

You must use 'to' to connect the adjective and the verb.

I am happy for see you.

I am happy to see you.

Use 'to' for the action, not 'for'.

It is good to seeing you.

It is good to see you.

After 'to', use the base verb, not '-ing'.

Is easy to go.

It is easy to go.

English sentences usually need a subject like 'It'.

It is important to not forget.

It is important not to forget.

Place 'not' before 'to' for the negative form.

The book is easy for read.

The book is easy to read.

Don't use 'for' before the verb; use 'to'.

I am ready for go.

I am ready to go.

Even if you are ready 'for' a trip, you are ready 'to' go.

It is easy for me learning.

It is easy for me to learn.

Even with 'for me', you still need the to-infinitive.

It was kind for you to help.

It was kind of you to help.

Use 'of' when describing someone's character trait.

I am sorry to being late.

I am sorry to be late.

Use the base form 'be' after 'to'.

It is easy that I learn.

It is easy for me to learn.

While 'that' clauses exist, the infinitive is much more natural for adjectives of difficulty.

Satzmuster

It is ___ to ___.

I am ___ to ___.

It is ___ for ___ to ___.

It was ___ of ___ to ___.

Real World Usage

Texting a friend constant

It's great to hear from you!

Job Interview common

I am eager to learn new skills.

Travel / Directions very common

It's easy to get lost in this city.

Food Delivery Apps occasional

It's important to leave a note for the driver.

Social Media very common

So happy to share this news!

Doctor's Office common

It's necessary to take this twice a day.

💡

Welche Adjektive passen hier?

Konzentrier dich auf Adjektive, die Meinungen, Gefühle oder Eigenschaften ausdrücken (z.B. good, bad, easy, hard, happy, sad, important, possible). Das sind deine Favoriten für diese Struktur! Stell dir vor, du redest über eine neue Sprache: "It's fun to learn German."
⚠️

Die Gerund-Falle!

Sei super vorsichtig und benutz KEINE -ing-Form (Gerund) nach dem Adjektiv in dieser Struktur. Es ist fast immer der to-Infinitiv! Zum Beispiel, du sagst: "It's easy to learn, NICHT It's easy learning".
🎯

'Für wen?' hinzufügen

Du willst angeben, *wer* etwas leicht oder schwer findet? Füge einfach 'for + Nomen/Pronomen' direkt nach dem Adjektiv hinzu! Zum Beispiel, wenn dein Freund immer zu spät ist: "It's difficult for him to be on time."
🌍

Natürlich klingen!

Wenn du 'It's + Adjektiv + to-Infinitiv' benutzt, klingt dein Englisch sofort viel natürlicher und flüssiger. Das ist ein Zeichen für fließendes Sprechen, also üb es oft! Denk an ein Kompliment: "It's wonderful to hear that!"
💡

Mehr als nur 'It's'

Auch wenn 'It's' total gängig ist, kannst du auch sagen: 'The task was hard to complete' oder 'He is difficult to work with'. Lass dich nicht einschränken! Stell dir vor, du hast ein kniffliges Problem gelöst:
That was challenging to figure out.

Smart Tips

Start your sentence with 'It's better to...' or 'It's important to...'. It sounds much more polite than a direct command.

Don't go there. It's better not to go there.

Use the 'for [person]' bridge right after the adjective.

It is hard to understand for me. It is hard for me to understand.

Always place 'not' as a guard in front of 'to'.

It's easy to not see the sign. It's easy not to see the sign.

Switch 'for' to 'of' to sound more native when talking about someone's character.

It was nice for you to help. It was nice of you to help.

Aussprache

It's easy /tə/ learn.

The 'to' reduction

In natural speech, 'to' is often reduced to a weak 'tuh' /tə/.

It's-easy /ɪtsiːzi/

Linking 'is' and 'easy'

The 's' in 'is' links to the 'e' in 'easy', sounding like /ɪzi/.

Emphasis on the Adjective

It's EASY to learn. (Stress on EASY)

Emphasizing the quality of the action.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Remember: 'Adjectives are the bridge, and TO is the glue.'

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a bridge connecting a 'Happy Face' (Adjective) to a 'Running Man' (Verb). The bridge is labeled 'TO'.

Rhyme

When an adjective is in your view, follow it up with 'to' and do!

Story

A man named 'It' was very 'Happy'. He wanted 'to help' his friend. He found it 'easy to carry' the bags, but 'hard to walk' up the stairs.

Word Web

EasyHardImportantHappyReadySurprisedNecessary

Herausforderung

Write 5 sentences about your day using 'It is [adjective] to [verb]'. Example: 'It is nice to drink coffee.'

Kulturelle Hinweise

British speakers frequently use 'It's kind of you to...' as a polite way to say thank you or accept a gift.

American English often uses 'It's important to...' in business settings to be direct but professional.

This structure is preferred in international business because it is clear and avoids the ambiguity of some gerund phrases.

The 'to' particle in English originally indicated direction (like 'towards'). Over time, it became a marker for the infinitive verb.

Gesprächseinstiege

Is it easy to find good food in your city?

What is the most important thing to do for a healthy life?

Were you surprised to see how much technology has changed?

Is it rude to use your phone at the dinner table?

Tagebuch-Impulse

Describe a new skill you are learning. Is it easy or hard to master?
Write about a time you were very happy or surprised to hear some news.
Discuss the rules of etiquette in your country. What is important to do or not to do?
Reflect on a difficult decision you had to make. Why was it hard to decide?

Häufige Fehler

Incorrect

Richtig


Incorrect

Richtig


Incorrect

Richtig


Incorrect

Richtig

Test Yourself

Wähle die korrekte Form, um den Satz zu vervollständigen.

It's so important ___ your friends.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to support
Nach 'important' (Adjektiv) verwenden wir den 'to-Infinitiv', um die Handlung zu beschreiben. 'To support' ist die korrekte Form.
Finde und korrigiere den Fehler im Satz. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

The book was difficult understanding.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The book was difficult to understand.
Das Adjektiv 'difficult' erfordert einen 'to-Infinitiv' ('to understand'), der darauf folgt, nicht ein Gerundium ('understanding').
Welcher Satz verwendet die Struktur 'Adjektiv + To-Infinitiv' korrekt? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It's necessary to remember details.
Das korrekte Muster ist 'It's + Adjektiv + to-Infinitiv'. 'To remember' ist die korrekte Infinitivform.
Übersetze ins Englische: 'Es ist aufregend, an neue Orte zu reisen.' Übersetzung

Translate into English: 'Es emocionante viajar a nuevos lugares.'

Answer starts with: ["I...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["It's exciting to travel to new places.","It is exciting to travel to new places."]
'Exciting' ist das Adjektiv, gefolgt vom 'to-Infinitiv' 'to travel'.

Score: /4

Ubungsaufgaben

8 exercises
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb.

It is important ___ (brush) your teeth every day.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to brush
We use 'to + base verb' after adjectives like 'important'.
Find the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

It is difficult for me learning English grammar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: learning
It should be 'to learn'. We don't use the gerund after 'difficult'.
Choose the most natural sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was kind of you to help.
We use 'of' when the adjective describes a person's character (kind, nice, brave).
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

not / to / important / it / is / forget / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It is important not to forget.
The negative 'not' comes before 'to'.
Translate the concept: 'Es difícil entender esto.' Übersetzung

How do you say this in English?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It is difficult to understand this.
English requires the 'It is' subject and the 'to' infinitive.
Match the adjective with the most logical infinitive. Match Pairs

Match: 1. Happy, 2. Hard, 3. Ready

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-to help, 2-to breathe, 3-to go
These are the most common natural pairings.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: 'I'm so nervous about the test.' B: 'Don't worry, it's ___.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: easy to pass
Adjective + to-infinitive is used to give encouragement.
Which of these is NOT a correct use of the rule? Grammar Sorting

Identify the incorrect sentence.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I am interested to learn.
'Interested' usually takes 'in + gerund' (interested in learning).

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Wähle die korrekte Form. Lückentext

It's often challenging ___ focused during long lectures.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to stay
Finde und korrigiere den Fehler im Satz. Error Correction

I'm happy helping you with your project.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I'm happy to help you with your project.
Welcher Satz ist korrekt? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The instructions were difficult to follow.
Übersetze ins Englische: 'Es ist unmöglich, das heute zu beenden.' Übersetzung

Translate into English: 'Es imposible terminar esto hoy.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["It's impossible to finish this today.","It is impossible to finish this today."]
Ordne diese Wörter zu einem Satz. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It is sometimes hard for me to understand.
Ordne die Adjektive den passenden Handlungen zu. Match Pairs

Match the adjectives with the correct action:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Vervollständige den Satz mit der korrekten Form. Lückentext

The movie was thrilling ___ from start to finish.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to watch
Identifiziere und korrigiere den grammatikalischen Fehler. Error Correction

It's too late starting now.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It's too late to start now.
Wähle den grammatisch korrekten Satz. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She is quick to learn new languages.
Übersetze ins Englische: 'Es war nett von dir, mich einzuladen.' Übersetzung

Translate into English: 'Fue amable de tu parte invitarme.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["It was kind of you to invite me.","It was kind for you to invite me."]
Entwirre die Wörter, um einen sinnvollen Satz zu bilden. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It was quite complicated to explain to him.
Verbinde das Gefühl mit der Handlung, die es auslöst. Match Pairs

Match the emotions with what they relate to:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

Yes, both are correct. However, `It is easy to learn` is much more common in spoken English because it emphasizes the adjective first.

We use `of` when the adjective describes the person's character (kind, mean, brave). We use `for` when the adjective describes the difficulty or effect of the action (hard, easy, important).

In casual speech, people say this often. However, in formal writing, you should put `not` before `to`: 'It's important not to forget.'

Most adjectives work, especially those describing difficulty, emotions, or opinions. However, some adjectives like `interested` or `afraid` often prefer a preposition + gerund (afraid of falling).

If you aren't using a person as the subject (like 'I am happy'), then yes, English requires the 'dummy' subject `It`.

Just change the verb 'be' to the past tense: `It was easy to learn` or `I was happy to help.` The infinitive part (`to learn`) stays the same.

Yes! This is a common extension: `It is too hot to eat` or `He is old enough to drive.`

It is neutral. It is used in both very formal academic writing and very casual text messages.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Es fácil de [verbo]

Spanish uses 'de' or 'para' instead of 'to'.

French moderate

C'est facile à [verbo]

French has two different particles (à/de) while English mostly uses 'to'.

German high

Es ist leicht zu [verbo]

The 'zu' in German often comes at the very end of the clause.

Japanese low

[Verb] no wa kantan desu

Japanese uses nominalization particles instead of an infinitive marker.

Arabic partial

Min al-sahli an [verb]

Arabic uses a 'that' (an) conjunction rather than a 'to' particle.

Chinese moderate

Hen rongyi [verb]

Chinese has no infinitive marker or 'dummy' subject.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Was this helpful?
Noch keine Kommentare. Sei der Erste, der seine Gedanken teilt!