Using It + infinitive
and Gerund/Infinitive Subjects (C1 Grammar Guide)
Hello Quijoter@s!
Welcome back to the Quijote
Land blog! Many of
our students often ask similar questions in class: Should
I say learning English is important or it is important to learn
English? Are both correct? Which one sounds more natural?
The answer is that both
structures are correct,
but they are used in slightly different ways and with different
levels of naturalness in English. Understanding how these patterns
work will help you sound more
fluent and natural,
especially at higher levels such as B2
and C1.
In this post, we will look at two
important grammar structures:
-
Gerund subjects
(-ing forms) -
The structure it +
infinitive
Let’s explore how they work and when
English speakers prefer one over the other.
English tends to avoid long
or complex subjects at the beginning of a sentence.
When the subject contains a full action or idea, speakers often move
it to the end of the sentence and use “it”
as a preparatory subject.
Two common ways to express actions as
subjects are:
-
Gerund (-ing) forms
-
The structure it +
infinitive
Although both are correct, they are
used in slightly different contexts.
This structure uses “it”
as a dummy or preparatory subject,
while the real subject appears later as an infinitive.
Structure
It + be + adjective + (for/of +
person) + to + verb
Examples
-
It is important
to drink enough water. -
It is difficult
to learn a language without practice. -
It is essential
to check your work carefully.
In these sentences, the real subjects
are:
-
to drink enough water
-
to learn a language
-
to check your work
However, they appear at the end
of the sentence because this structure sounds more
natural in English.
Using for and of
Two prepositions commonly appear
in this structure: for
and of.
Using for
We use for
to indicate who performs the action.
Example:
-
It is easy
for children to learn languages.
Here, the adjective describes
the difficulty of
the action.
Using of
We use of
when we evaluate a person’s behaviour.
Examples:
-
It was kind
of you to help me. -
It was careless
of him to forget the meeting.
In this case, the adjective
describes the
person, not the
action.
Gerunds as subjects
Another way to express actions
as subjects is by using gerunds,
which are verbs ending in -ing.
Structure
Verb-ing + verb
Examples
-
Learning languages
takes time. -
Eating too much
sugar is unhealthy. -
Travelling broadens
the mind.
Gerund subjects are particularly
common when referring to activities,
habits, or general ideas.
Both gerunds and infinitives can
function as subjects, but they are not used equally often.
Gerund subjects
-
Learning English
takes time.
This form is clear and natural,
especially when speaking about activities in general.
Infinitive subjects
-
To learn English
takes time.
Although grammatically correct,
this structure is less
common in everyday English
and can sound slightly more formal.
Extraposition with it
For this reason, English often
prefers the it +
infinitive structure:
-
It takes time to
learn English.
This is usually the most
natural option in
both spoken and written English.
This structure is particularly common
in three situations.
-
When the subject is long
-
Less natural: To finish
the project before Monday is difficult. -
More natural: It
is difficult to finish the project before Monday.
-
- When the sentence begins
with an adjective
-
It is important
to stay calm. -
It is hard
to understand this theory. -
When speakers want a
smoother sentence
-
It is interesting to see how
languages evolve.
The movement of the infinitive
clause to the end of the sentence is known as extraposition.
English uses this structure very frequently because it allows the
listener or reader to process information more easily.
Compare:
-
To learn a language
is difficult. -
It is difficult to
learn a language.
The second sentence is generally
preferred in modern English.
-
Using infinitive subjects
too often. Learners sometimes produce sentences such as: - To understand this
problem is important. - A more natural
alternative is: It
is important to understand this problem. - Confusing gerunds and
infinitives - Incorrect: Eat
vegetables is healthy. - Correct:
Eating vegetables is
healthy.
Both gerund
subjects and the
structure it + infinitive
allow us to talk about actions as the subject of a sentence. However,
English very often prefers the “it”
structure,
especially when the subject is long or when the sentence begins with
an adjective.
Learning to recognise and use
these patterns will help you produce more
natural and more advanced English,
particularly in academic or professional contexts.
At Quijote
Land, we believe
that learning a language is not only about memorising grammar rules,
but about understanding
how real English works and using it with confidence.
If you want to continue improving your
English, keep following our blog and practising in class. Step by
step, you will see how your fluency grows.
See you soon, Quijoter@s!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with all our latest news.
You can also find us on our official website
