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Adjectives followed by infinitives, gerunds, clauses and prepositions.
Many adjectives are followed by specific grammatical patterns.
These patterns include infinitives, prepositional phrases, clauses and other complements.
She is ready to leave.
Она готова уйти.
"Ready" is followed by a to-infinitive.
He is interested in photography.
Он интересуется фотографией.
"Interested" is followed by the preposition "in" and a noun.
I am glad that you came.
Я рад, что ты пришел.
"Glad" is followed by a that-clause.
She is not sure where to park.
Она не уверена, где припарковаться.
"Sure" is followed by a wh-clause.
It is difficult to find a parking space downtown.
В центре трудно найти место для парковки.
"Difficult" appears in the pattern "It is difficult to + verb".
We are proud of our new home.
Мы гордимся нашим новым домом.
"Proud" is followed by the preposition "of".
He was too tired to drive home.
Он был слишком уставшим, чтобы ехать домой.
"Tired" is followed by the pattern "too + adjective + to-infinitive".
They were happy with the results.
Они были довольны результатами.
"Happy" is followed by the preposition "with" when describing satisfaction.
Many adjectives are followed by a to-infinitive.
Examples include easy to understand, difficult to solve and happy to help.
This book is easy to read.
Эту книгу легко читать.
"Easy" is followed by the to-infinitive "to read".
The problem is difficult to solve.
Эту проблему трудно решить.
"Difficult" is followed by the to-infinitive "to solve".
I am happy to help.
Я рад помочь.
"Happy" is followed by the to-infinitive "to help".
She is ready to start.
Она готова начать.
"Ready" is followed by the to-infinitive "to start".
This box is too heavy to carry.
Эта коробка слишком тяжелая, чтобы ее нести.
"Too heavy to carry" expresses an excessive degree for the action.
The room is large enough to fit six people.
Комната достаточно большая, чтобы вместить шесть человек.
"Large enough to fit" expresses sufficient degree for the action.
It is nice to see you again.
Рад снова тебя видеть.
"Nice" is followed by the to-infinitive "to see".
He was surprised to hear the news.
Он был удивлен, услышав эту новость.
"Surprised" is followed by the to-infinitive "to hear".
Many adjectives require specific prepositions.
Examples include interested in, afraid of, proud of and responsible for.
She is interested in art.
Она интересуется искусством.
"Interested" is followed by the preposition "in".
He is afraid of dogs.
Он боится собак.
"Afraid" is followed by "of".
They are proud of their son.
Они гордятся своим сыном.
"Proud" is followed by "of".
She is responsible for the project.
Она отвечает за проект.
"Responsible" is followed by "for".
I am worried about the cost.
Я беспокоюсь из-за стоимости.
"Worried" is followed by "about".
He is good at math.
Он хорошо разбирается в математике.
"Good" is followed by "at" when describing ability.
She is different from her sister.
Она отличается от своей сестры.
"Different" is commonly followed by "from".
We are satisfied with the service.
Мы довольны обслуживанием.
"Satisfied" is followed by "with".
Some adjectives are followed by a that-clause.
Examples include certain that, glad that and disappointed that.
I am glad that you are here.
Я рад, что ты здесь.
"Glad" is followed by the that-clause "that you are here".
She is certain that he knows the answer.
Она уверена, что он знает ответ.
"Certain" is followed by a that-clause.
We are disappointed that the event was canceled.
Мы разочарованы тем, что мероприятие отменили.
"Disappointed" introduces the clause explaining the reason for the feeling.
He is happy that his parents are visiting.
Он рад, что его родители приезжают.
"Happy" is followed by the that-clause "that his parents are visiting".
I am sure that this is the right address.
Я уверен, что это правильный адрес.
"Sure" is followed by a that-clause expressing what the speaker believes.
They were surprised that the store was still open.
Они удивились, что магазин все еще был открыт.
"Surprised" is followed by a that-clause describing the unexpected fact.
She is pleased that everyone arrived safely.
Она рада, что все благополучно приехали.
"Pleased" is followed by a that-clause.
We are confident that the plan will work.
Мы уверены, что план сработает.
"Confident" is followed by a that-clause expressing the belief.
Some adjectives introduce wh-clauses expressing uncertainty or knowledge.
Examples include unsure where to go and uncertain whether it is true.
I am not sure where to park.
Я не уверен, где припарковаться.
"Sure" is followed by the wh-clause "where to park".
She is unsure what to say.
Она не знает, что сказать.
"Unsure" is followed by the wh-clause "what to say".
We are uncertain whether the store is open.
Мы не уверены, открыт ли магазин.
"Uncertain" is followed by the clause "whether the store is open".
He is unsure how to fix the problem.
Он не уверен, как решить проблему.
"Unsure" is followed by "how to fix the problem".
I am uncertain why she left early.
Я не уверен, почему она ушла рано.
"Uncertain" is followed by a wh-clause beginning with "why".
They are unsure which route to take.
Они не уверены, какой маршрут выбрать.
"Unsure" is followed by the wh-clause "which route to take".
She is uncertain when the meeting will end.
Она не уверена, когда закончится встреча.
"Uncertain" introduces a question about time.
I am not sure how much it costs.
Я не уверен, сколько это стоит.
"Sure" introduces an indirect question with "how much".
English uses special adjective patterns with of and for before an infinitive.
Compare It was kind of her to help with It was difficult for him to understand.
It was kind of her to help us.
С ее стороны было любезно помочь нам.
"Kind of her to help us" evaluates the person who performs the action.
It was nice of you to call.
Было очень любезно с твоей стороны позвонить.
"Nice of you to call" comments on the person's behavior.
It was rude of him to interrupt.
С его стороны было невежливо перебивать.
"Rude of him to interrupt" evaluates his action.
It was difficult for me to understand the instructions.
Мне было трудно понять инструкции.
"For me to understand" identifies who would perform the action.
It is important for everyone to arrive on time.
Важно, чтобы все пришли вовремя.
"For everyone to arrive" identifies the people expected to perform the action.
It was easy for her to find a parking space.
Ей было легко найти место для парковки.
"For her to find" identifies the person performing the action.
It was generous of them to donate the money.
С их стороны было великодушно пожертвовать деньги.
"Generous of them to donate" evaluates the people's action.
It is impossible for us to finish today.
Нам невозможно закончить сегодня.
"For us to finish" identifies who would perform the action.
Many adjective patterns use introductory it as the grammatical subject.
Examples include It is important to study and It was surprising that she agreed.
It is important to get enough sleep.
Важно достаточно спать.
"It" is an introductory subject; the real content is "to get enough sleep".
It is difficult to find affordable housing in the city.
В городе трудно найти доступное жилье.
"It" introduces the infinitive clause "to find affordable housing".
It was surprising that she agreed.
Было удивительно, что она согласилась.
"It" introduces the that-clause "that she agreed".
It is nice to see you again.
Рад снова тебя видеть.
"It" allows the longer infinitive clause to come after the adjective.
It was clear that we needed more time.
Было ясно, что нам нужно больше времени.
"It" introduces the content clause "that we needed more time".
It is easy to make mistakes when you are tired.
Легко допускать ошибки, когда вы устали.
"It is easy to + verb" is a common extraposition pattern.
It is important for children to get enough exercise.
Детям важно достаточно двигаться.
"It" introduces the infinitive clause with an expressed subject.
It was disappointing that the event was canceled.
Было неприятно, что мероприятие отменили.
"It" introduces the clause explaining what was disappointing.
Adjectives may take different types of complements depending on their meaning.
The choice of complement is determined by the adjective rather than by a general grammatical rule.
She is happy to help.
Она рада помочь.
"Happy" takes a to-infinitive complement.
She is happy with the results.
Она довольна результатами.
"Happy" takes a prepositional complement with "with".
She is happy that you came.
Она рада, что ты пришел.
"Happy" takes a that-clause complement.
He is interested in the new project.
Он интересуется новым проектом.
"Interested" takes the prepositional complement "in the new project".
He is interested to learn more about the project.
Ему интересно узнать больше о проекте.
"Interested" can also occur with a to-infinitive in a more formal pattern.
They are proud of their new home.
Они гордятся своим новым домом.
"Proud" takes the prepositional complement "of".
I am certain that she knows the answer.
Я уверен, что она знает ответ.
"Certain" takes a that-clause complement.
The instructions are difficult to follow.
Инструкциям трудно следовать.
"Difficult" takes a to-infinitive complement.
Some adjectives change meaning depending on the complement that follows.
Compare happy to help, happy that you came and happy with the result.
I am happy to help.
Я рад помочь.
"Happy to help" expresses willingness or pleasure about performing an action.
I am happy that you came.
Я рад, что ты пришел.
"Happy that you came" expresses happiness about a fact or event.
I am happy with the result.
Я доволен результатом.
"Happy with" expresses satisfaction with something.
He is sorry to hear the news.
Ему жаль это слышать.
"Sorry to hear" expresses a reaction to receiving information.
He is sorry that the meeting was canceled.
Ему жаль, что встречу отменили.
"Sorry that" expresses regret about a specific fact.
She is sorry about the delay.
Она сожалеет из-за задержки.
"Sorry about" expresses regret or an apology concerning something.
They are pleased to announce the results.
Они рады сообщить результаты.
"Pleased to announce" expresses a positive attitude toward performing the action.
They are pleased with the results.
Они довольны результатами.
"Pleased with" expresses satisfaction with something.
Not every adjective can be followed by every complement type.
Learning common adjective patterns as collocations improves fluency and accuracy.
She is interested in music.
Она интересуется музыкой.
"Interested" normally takes "in", not "on".
He is afraid of heights.
Он боится высоты.
"Afraid" takes "of" rather than "from" in this meaning.
She is proud of her daughter.
Она гордится своей дочерью.
"Proud" requires the complement pattern "proud of".
We are responsible for the project.
Мы отвечаем за проект.
"Responsible" takes "for", not "of", when expressing responsibility.
He is good at fixing computers.
Он хорошо разбирается в ремонте компьютеров.
"Good" takes "at" when describing an ability.
She is satisfied with the service.
Она довольна обслуживанием.
"Satisfied" normally takes "with" when naming the thing that satisfies the person.
They are capable of solving the problem.
Они способны решить проблему.
"Capable" is followed by "of" plus a gerund, not a direct to-infinitive.
She is used to working early.
Она привыкла рано работать.
"Used to" meaning accustomed to is followed by a noun or gerund.
Modern grammar describes adjective complementation in terms of valency.
Different adjectives license different grammatical complements, much like verbs.
She is eager to start.
Она очень хочет начать.
"Eager" licenses a to-infinitive complement.
He is dependent on his parents.
Он зависит от своих родителей.
"Dependent" licenses the preposition "on".
She is certain that the plan will work.
Она уверена, что план сработает.
"Certain" licenses a that-clause.
They are unsure whether the store is open.
Они не уверены, открыт ли магазин.
"Unsure" licenses a whether-clause expressing uncertainty.
He is capable of solving the problem.
Он способен решить проблему.
"Capable" licenses "of" followed by a gerund.
She is ready to leave.
Она готова уйти.
"Ready" licenses a to-infinitive complement.
We are pleased with the outcome.
Мы довольны результатом.
"Pleased" licenses the preposition "with".
I am uncertain how to proceed.
Я не уверен, как действовать дальше.
"Uncertain" licenses a how-clause.
Use the complement pattern required by each adjective.
Common mistakes include using incorrect prepositions, omitting to before infinitives, confusing that-clauses with infinitives and using complements that the adjective does not allow.
She is interested in art.
Она интересуется искусством.
Use "interested in", not "interested on".
He is afraid of dogs.
Он боится собак.
Use "afraid of", not "afraid from".
This book is easy to understand.
Эту книгу легко понять.
Use the to-infinitive "to understand" after "easy".
I am happy to help.
Я рад помочь.
Do not omit "to" before the infinitive in this pattern.
It is important to get enough sleep.
Важно достаточно спать.
Introductory "it" is required in this extraposition pattern.
It is difficult for me to understand the instructions.
Мне трудно понять инструкции.
"For me to understand" identifies who performs the action.
I am glad that you came.
Я рад, что ты пришел.
Use a that-clause when the adjective introduces a fact or event.
She is unsure where to park.
Она не уверена, где припарковаться.
Use a wh-clause for uncertainty about information such as place, time or method.