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).
Overview
to-infinitive를 붙여서 말이지. 이건 교과서 같은 말투가 아니라 진짜 현지인처럼 들리게 해주는 아주 유용한 도구 중 하나야. 렉이 걸리는 게임에 대해 불평하든, 친구의 틱톡 영상이 대박 난 걸 보고 기쁘다고 말하든, 이 패턴은 너의 가장 친한 친구가 되어줄 거야.that 절을 써서 길고 복잡한 문장을 만드는 것보다 훨씬 자연스러워.infinitive(to + verb 형태)를 연결해주지. 우리는 무언가가 얼마나 쉽거나 어려운지, 어떤 행동에 대해 어떻게 느끼는지, 혹은 누군가의 행동을 판단할 때 이 패턴을 써.infinitive를 그 맛이 입혀지는 '행동'이라고 생각해 봐. 만약 네가 It is important라고만 하면, 친구는 뒷내용을 기다릴 거야. 하지만 It is important to charge your phone이라고 하면 생각이 완성되지.How This Grammar Works
내가 너를 만나서 기뻐(I am happy because I am meeting you)라고 길게 말하는 대신, 그냥
I am happy to meet you라고 하면 돼. 간단하지?infinitive가 그 분위기가 무엇 때문인지 알려주는 거야. 여기엔 두 가지 주요 방식이 있어. 첫째, It을 가짜 주어(placeholder subject)로 사용하는 거야.It is hard to wake up early처럼 말이야. 여기서 It은 특별한 의미가 있는 게 아니라, 진짜 정보를 위해 자리를 맡아주는 역할만 해.You are lucky to win that giveaway처럼 말이지. 여기서는 초점이 직접 그 사람에게 맞춰져 있어.to + 동사. 이건 마치 중간에 to가 있어야만 딱 들어맞는 레고 세트와 같아.to를 빼버리면, 그 구조는 싸구려 핸드폰 액정보다 더 빨리 무너져버릴걸.
Formation Pattern
It is를 쓰고, 특정한 사람에 대해 말할 때는 I am / You are / She is 등을 써. 과거냐 미래냐에 따라 was나 will be를 써도 돼.
happy, surprised), 난이도(easy, impossible), 혹은 판단(kind, wrong)을 나타내는 단어를 골라봐.
to 뒤에 동사원형을 붙여서 마무리해. 여기서 동사에 -ing나 -ed를 붙이면 절대로 안 돼. to라는 보디가드를 대동한 '벌거벗은' 동사 그대로 써야 해.
It (주어) + is (동사) + dangerous (형용사) + to share (To-Infinitive) + your password.
infinitive 앞에 for [someone]을 넣으면 돼. It is easy for me to use this app. 하지만 너무 신나서 중간에 문장을 한 문단이나 넣지는 마. 듣는 사람이 문장이 어떻게 시작됐는지 잊어버릴지도 모르니까!
When To Use It
This game is fun to play. 예의를 차릴 때도 좋아: I’m sorry to bother you.I was shocked to hear the news. 과제나 도전 과제를 설명할 때도 단골 메뉴야. 직장에서 상사가 프로젝트에 대해 물어보면 It’s simple to fix나 It’s too complex to explain right now라고 말할 수 있어.enough나 too 같은 단어와 함께 쓰이는 것도 자주 들을 거야. I’m too tired to scroll any further라거나 The coffee is hot enough to drink처럼 말이지. 기본적으로 어떤 성질을 특정 활동과 연결하고 싶을 때 이 패턴이 정답이야.하늘은 보기에 파랗다(The sky is blue to look at)같은 말은 잘 안 하거든.
Common Mistakes
-ing 형태를 자꾸 쓰려고 하거든. «영어를 배우는 건 쉬워»를 It is easy learning English라고 말하고 싶을 수도 있지만, 그건 시스템 오류야. 맞는 표현은
It is easy to learn English야. 또 다른 고전적인 실수는 아예 to를 빼먹는 거야. I am happy see you라고 하면 고장 난 로봇처럼 들려. 조각들을 붙여줄 to라는 풀이 꼭 필요해. 그리고 It을 빼먹는 실수도 조심해. 어떤 언어들은 형용사로 문장을 시작할 수 있지만, 영어에서는 자리를 지켜줄 It이 필요해. Is hard to finish라고 하지 말고,
It is hard to finish라고 해줘. 마지막으로, 이걸 '형용사 + 전치사' 패턴과 헷갈리지 마. 만약 I’m good at이라고 한다면 반드시 -ing를 써야 해(I’m good at gaming). 하지만 easy를 쓴다면 infinitive가 필요해(It is easy to game on this PC). 이걸 섞어 쓰는 건 마치 USB-C 케이블로 아이폰을 충전하려는 것과 같아. 절대 제대로 꽂히지 않을 거야.Contrast With Similar Patterns
interested는 항상 in + -ing와 함께 다녀. interested in learning이라고 해야지, 'interested to learn'이라고 하지는 않아(물론 사람들이 알아듣긴 하겠지만 말이야). 반면에 happy나 ready는 거의 항상 infinitive를 써: ready to go, happy to stay.that 절이야. I’m surprised that you called라고 할 수도 있고, 우리 규칙을 써서 I’m surprised to receive your call이라고 할 수도 있어. infinitive 버전이 대개 더 간결하고 즉각적인 느낌을 줘.that 버전을 쓰고, 행동 자체가 주인공일 때는 infinitive 버전을 써봐. 이건 풀버전 영화와 15초짜리 클립 중 하나를 고르는 것과 같아. 둘 다 이야기는 전달하지만, 하나가 훨씬 더 빨리 소비할 수 있지.Quick FAQ
아무 형용사에나 다 쓸 수 있어?
거의 다 돼! 특히 감정, 난이도, 의견을 나타내는 형용사들이라면 말이지.
부정문으로 만들고 싶으면 어떻게 해?
to 앞에 not만 붙여주면 돼. It’s important not to forget your keys.
격식 있는 표현이야, 아니면 비격식이야?
둘 다야! 취업 면접에서도 쓰고(I’m eager to start), 친구들 사이에서도 써(It’s great to see you).
여기에 too를 써도 돼?
당연하지! too + 형용사 + infinitive는 무언가가 불가능하거나 부정적이라는 뜻이야. It’s too expensive to buy.
enough는 어때?
형용사 + enough + infinitive 순서로 써줘. I’m old enough to decide for myself.
동사 시제가 바뀌면 infinitive도 바뀌어?
아니! I was happy to help든 I will be happy to help든 infinitive는 그대로야. to 부분은 옷을 절대 갈아입지 않는 시간 여행자 같은 존재거든.
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.
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.”
Emotional Reaction
Expressing how someone feels about doing something.
“I'm delighted to meet you.”
“She was surprised to see him there.”
Judgment and Character
Commenting on someone's behavior or character traits.
“It was kind of you to help.”
“It's rude to interrupt people.”
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
| 형용사 | 의미 | 예문 | 핵심 표현 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Easy
|
어렵지 않은
|
It's `easy to learn` new words.
|
easy to learn
|
|
Hard
|
어려운, 힘든
|
It was `hard to solve` the puzzle.
|
hard to solve
|
|
Important
|
중요한, 필요한
|
It's `important to listen` carefully.
|
important to listen
|
|
Pleasant
|
즐거운, 좋은
|
It's `pleasant to walk` in the park.
|
pleasant to walk
|
|
Impossible
|
불가능한
|
It's `impossible to predict` the future.
|
impossible to predict
|
|
Exciting
|
신나는, 흥미진진한
|
It's `exciting to start` a new project.
|
exciting to start
|
|
Glad
|
기쁜, 만족한
|
I'm `glad to see` you again.
|
glad to see
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
It is quite straightforward to complete the application. (Completing a task)
It's easy to finish the form. (Completing a task)
It's a breeze to do. (Completing a task)
It's a piece of cake to knock out. (Completing a task)
형용사 + to부정사: 당신의 의견 표현 도구
흔한 형용사
- Easy Not difficult
- Hard Difficult
- Important Necessary
- Happy Pleased
흔한 to부정사
- to do perform an action
- to understand grasp meaning
- to say speak words
- to go depart
주요 패턴
- It's easy to use Express general opinion
- She is happy to help Express personal feeling
어떤 역할을 할까요?
- 의견 표현 How you feel about an action
- 특성 묘사 What an action is like
to부정사 vs. 동명사 (형용사 뒤)
'형용사 + to부정사'를 사용해야 할까요?
어떤 행동에 대한 의견이나 감정을 표현하고 있나요?
'easy', 'hard', 'important', 'happy' 같은 형용사 뒤에 오는 행동인가요?
to부정사와 잘 어울리는 형용사들
의견/특성
- • Easy
- • Hard
- • Difficult
- • Simple
- • Impossible
- • Possible
- • Good
- • Bad
- • Fun
- • Boring
- • Interesting
감정
- • Happy
- • Glad
- • Sad
- • Pleased
- • Delighted
- • Excited
- • Surprised
- • Shocked
- • Upset
- • Angry
- • Disappointed
필요성/중요성
- • Important
- • Necessary
- • Essential
- • Crucial
- • Vital
- • Obligatory
수준별 예문
I am happy to help you.
It is good to see you.
It is easy to read this.
She is sad to go.
It is important to drink water.
It is not easy to learn Chinese.
Are you ready to order?
It is dangerous to swim here.
It is difficult for me to speak in public.
It was very kind of you to invite us.
It is necessary to wear a helmet.
I was surprised to find the door open.
The results are likely to be positive.
It is vital not to underestimate the competition.
He is always the first to arrive at work.
The instructions are too complicated to follow.
It is imperative to address these issues immediately.
She was relieved to have finished the marathon.
It is quite common for students to feel overwhelmed.
The book is well worth the effort to read.
It is incumbent upon the board to ensure transparency.
The theory is far too abstract to be applied practically.
He was loath to admit that he had been mistaken.
It is seldom easy to reconcile such disparate views.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners often use 'to' when a specific preposition is required by the adjective.
Both 'Learning is fun' and 'It is fun to learn' are correct, leading to choice paralysis.
Learners forget the 'to' after enough/too.
자주 하는 실수
It is easy learn.
It is easy to learn.
I am happy for see you.
I am happy to see you.
It is good to seeing you.
It is good to see you.
Is easy to go.
It is easy to go.
It is important to not forget.
It is important not to forget.
The book is easy for read.
The book is easy to read.
I am ready for go.
I am ready to go.
It is easy for me learning.
It is easy for me to learn.
It was kind for you to help.
It was kind of you to help.
I am sorry to being late.
I am sorry to be late.
It is easy that I learn.
It is easy for me to learn.
문장 패턴
It is ___ to ___.
I am ___ to ___.
It is ___ for ___ to ___.
It was ___ of ___ to ___.
Real World Usage
It's great to hear from you!
I am eager to learn new skills.
It's easy to get lost in this city.
It's important to leave a note for the driver.
So happy to share this news!
It's necessary to take this twice a day.
이 문법에 쓰이는 형용사들!
동명사 vs. to부정사 함정
, NOT It's easy learning".'누구에게' 추가하기
for + 명사/대명사를 추가하면 돼요! 예를 들어, «저한테는 일찍 일어나는 게 힘들어요.»: "It's difficult for me to wake up early."자연스럽게 들리는 법
It's + 형용사 + to부정사 구조를 사용하면 영어가 훨씬 더 자연스럽고 대화체처럼 들릴 거예요. 유창한 영어의 특징 중 하나이니 자주 연습해 보세요!: "It's nice to meet you."'It's' 말고도 다양하게!
Smart Tips
Start your sentence with 'It's better to...' or 'It's important to...'. It sounds much more polite than a direct command.
Use the 'for [person]' bridge right after the adjective.
Always place 'not' as a guard in front of 'to'.
Switch 'for' to 'of' to sound more native when talking about someone's character.
발음
The 'to' reduction
In natural speech, 'to' is often reduced to a weak 'tuh' /tə/.
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.
암기하기
기억법
Remember: 'Adjectives are the bridge, and TO is the glue.'
시각적 연상
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
챌린지
Write 5 sentences about your day using 'It is [adjective] to [verb]'. Example: 'It is nice to drink coffee.'
문화 노트
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.
대화 시작하기
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?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
It's so important ___ your friends.
Find and fix the mistake:
The book was difficult understanding.
올바른 문장을 고르세요:
Translate into English: 'Es emocionante viajar a nuevos lugares.'
Answer starts with: ["I...
Score: /4
연습 문제
8 exercisesIt is important ___ (brush) your teeth every day.
Find and fix the mistake:
It is difficult for me learning English grammar.
Which sentence is correct?
not / to / important / it / is / forget / .
How do you say this in English?
Match: 1. Happy, 2. Hard, 3. Ready
A: 'I'm so nervous about the test.' B: 'Don't worry, it's ___.'
Identify the incorrect sentence.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesIt's often challenging ___ focused during long lectures.
I'm happy helping you with your project.
올바른 문장을 고르세요:
Translate into English: 'Es imposible terminar esto hoy.'
이 단어들을 문장으로 배열하세요:
형용사와 올바른 행동을 연결하세요:
The movie was thrilling ___ from start to finish.
It's too late starting now.
어떤 문장이 올바른가요?
Translate into English: 'Fue amable de tu parte invitarme.'
이 단어들을 문장으로 배열하세요:
감정과 관련된 행동을 연결하세요:
Score: /12
자주 묻는 질문 (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
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Es fácil de [verbo]
Spanish uses 'de' or 'para' instead of 'to'.
C'est facile à [verbo]
French has two different particles (à/de) while English mostly uses 'to'.
Es ist leicht zu [verbo]
The 'zu' in German often comes at the very end of the clause.
[Verb] no wa kantan desu
Japanese uses nominalization particles instead of an infinitive marker.
Min al-sahli an [verb]
Arabic uses a 'that' (an) conjunction rather than a 'to' particle.
Hen rongyi [verb]
Chinese has no infinitive marker or 'dummy' subject.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
관련 동영상
01:20 The Mountain of Material You Never See
07:21 The Business of Piracy: How Pirate Ships Actually Worked
06:50 All Penguins Are From Australia
How to use GERUNDS and INFINITIVES | Confusing English Grammar
mmmEnglish
GERUND (ing) or INFINITIVE (to) – Everything You Need to Know!
JForrest English
Gerunds & Infinitives – English Grammar Lessons
Ellii (formerly ESL Library)
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Overview 다른 사람에 의해 `being directed`(감독되는) 영화 속 엑스트라가 된 기분을 느껴본 적 있나요? 아니면 퇴근 전 중요...
Stop + 동명사 vs. 부정사: 그만두기 vs. 잠시 멈추기
Overview 혹시 이메일을 확인하려고 잠깐 쉬는 거였는데, 실수로 직장을 그만뒀다고 말해본 적 있어? 시트콤의 한 장면 같지만,...
Infinitives and Gerunds: Verb Patterns (Want to Go / Enjoy Going)
## Infinitives and Gerunds: Verb Patterns ### Verbs + to + infinitive - **want**: I want **to eat**. - **need**: She ne...
영어 분사 구문: 동시에 두 가지 일을 하는 것 (V-ing)
### Overview 영어 학습의 여정에서 C1 레벨, 즉 고급 단계에 도달했다는 것은 단순히 문법 규칙을 아는 것을 넘어, 언어의 '경...
