Tough Construction

Sungeun Cho

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 Tough Construction
(1) a. It is easy to please John.
b. John is easy to please.
(2) a. It is very hard to interpret the
result.
b. The result is very hard to interpret.

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 Tough Construction
(3) a. It is hard to play this sonata on
that violin.
b. That sonata is hard to play on
that violin.
-easy, tough, difficult, hard, impossible,

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 Tough Movement Sentences
• The object of an infinitive clause in an
extraposition pattern sentences like that shown
in (4a) may be moved out of its clause into the
position occupied by it, to produce a sentence
that has an identical meaning as shown in (4b).

(4) a. It is easy to understand this lesson.

b. This lesson is easy to understand_____.

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 Tough Movement Sentences
• Tough movement also operates on infinitives
with subjects.
(5) a. It’s easy for John to understand this lesson.
b. This lesson is easy for John to understand.

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 Tough Movement Sentences
The object that is moved into main clause subject
position can be the object of a preposition in the
infinitive clause.
(6) a. It’s a real pleasure to work with John.
b. John is a real pleasure to work with.

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 Tough Movement Sentences
• Tough movement cannot be applied to all
extraposition pattern sentences with infinitive
clauses.
• For tough movement to apply, the main clause
must have be, or a similar verb followed by
either
• An ease/difficulty adjective such as dangerous,
difficult, easy, fun, hard, impossible, pleasant,
simple, tough, or wonderful

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 Tough Movement Sentences
• An NP that has a similar “ease/difficulty”
meaning, for example, a chore, a cinch, a joy, a
pain, a piece of cake, a pleasure, a snap.
(7) a. It is possible to see the director.
b. *The director is possible to see.
(8) a. It is a real honor to work with Professor
Hobson.
b. *Professor Hobson is a real honor to work
with.
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 Tough Movement Sentences
• Tough movement sentences are common in
both conversation and academic prose.
• Tough movement gives speakers and writers a
way to put old information in a sentence in its
typical position, at the start of a sentence.

(9) A: Do you know when John’s birthday is?

B: It’s easy to remember. December 25th,
Christmas day.

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기출문제 2006 전국

• 다음 예문을 보면 sure와 probable은 동일한 유형의 형용

사로 보이지만 차이점이 있다. 그 차이점을 통사적 근거를
들어 우리 말로 쓰시오.
a. It is sure that John will pass the test.
b. It is probable that John will pass the test.

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기출문제 2006 전국

• John is sure to pass the test.

• *John is probable to pass the test.

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기출문제 2006 전국
• Sure type: certain, likely
• It is likely that John loves Mary.
• John is likely to love Mary.
• *It is likely for John to love Mary.

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기출문제 2006 전국
• True type: clear, probable
• It is true that he beats her.
• *It is true for him to beat her.
• *He is true to beat her.

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기출문제 2006 전국
• Tough type: difficult, easy, (un)pleasant,
impossible
• It is difficult (for John) to play the sonata on
the violin.
• This sonata is difficult (for John) to play on the
violin.
• *It is difficult that John plays the sonata on the
violin.

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기출문제 전국 2005

• 형용사 impossible이 술어일 때 구문을 아래와

같이 전환할 수 있다. 이와 같은 통사적 특성을
지닌 형용사 3개를 <보기>에서 찾아 쓰시오.
• To play this sonata on the violin is impossible.
• →It is impossible to play this sonata on the
violin.
• →This sonata is impossible to play on the
violin.

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기출문제 전국 2005
• <보기>
• Boring, eager, likely, merry, obvious,
pleasant, sorry, tough

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기출문제 전국 2005
• Boring, pleasant, tough

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