Grammar: Groups and phrases: Adjective group

Structure of the adjective group

Adjective + clause

An adjective can be followed by different types of clauses:

adjective + that-clause
adjective + to-clause
adjective + wh- clause

Adjective + that-clause

Sometimes an adjective is followed by a 'that-clause'. This is another way of extending the adjective to form an adjective group: Note

MegaMonster was
upset that Granny Gong always spoiled his plans.
adjective group
(including that-clause)
 

Here are some adjectives that commonly take a that-clause. Note that most of them are 'feeling' adjectives.

afraid that ... amazed that ...
angry that ... annoyed that ...
aware that ... certain that ...
confident that ... glad that ...
happy that ... lucky that ...
nervous that ... pleased that ...
positive that sure that ...
sad that ... sorry that ...
surprised that ... worried that ...

It is also common to use a that-clause after 'so + adjective':

He was so angry that he broke the cup.
adjective group
(including that-clause)

Adjective + to-clause

Sometimes an adjective can also be followed by a 'to-clause': Note

Granny was delighted to catch the ghost.
adjective group
(including to-clause)

Here are some adjectives that are commonly followed by a to-clause.

able to 

determined to  good to  pleased to 

about to 

difficult to  happy to  proud to 

afraid to 

disappointed to  hard to  ready to 

amused to 

eager to  heavy to  sad to 

angry to 

easy to  impossible to  safe to 

anxious to 

enjoyable to  interesting to  scared to 

ashamed to 

exciting to  keen to  silly to 

boring to 

expensive to  likely to  sorry to 

careful to 

free to  lovely to  sure to 

cheap to 

frightened to  lucky to  surprised to 

delighted to 

glad to  nice to  willing to 

It is also common to use a to-clause after 'too + adjective':

The ghost was  too hard to catch.
adjective group
(including to-clause)

Adjective + wh- clause

Sometimes an adjective is followed by a 'wh- clause'. These are not very common, however.

Granny wasn't
sure whether the ghost would fall for her trick.
adjective group
(including wh- clause)
 

Here are some adjectives that are commonly followed by a wh- clause.

unsure how/whether ... worried what ...
uncertain how/whether ... curious whether ...

To read the full text of Granny Gong and the GrumpyGhost, click here

Tell me more ...

Adjective + adverb of degree
Adjective + comparative
Adjective + prepositional phrase
Adjective + clause
Adjective + adjective


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