This book is easy to read. This book is easy to be read.

Question

First of all,  thanks for your reading.I think that two sentences are different.but Many people thinks that the latter is not correct. I wonder whether two sentences are correct or not.and  I want to know why they are corrrect or not.

Teechr · Accepted Answer

KBManMany people thinks that the latter is not correct.

I agree. The second is unnatural. Use the first.

CalifJim · Answer

KBMan This book is easy to read. This book is easy to be read.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tough_movement.

In these constructions the subject of the sentence is simultaneously the object of the infinitive at the end.

The infinitive with its implied object is shown at the end of each example below.

Lisa's singing is painful to endure. (to endure Lisa's singing)
That problem is tough to solve. (to solve this problem)
This construction is difficult to understand. (to understand this construction)

Only certain words (like painful, tough, difficult) ever occur in such constructions. A list of them is given in the link above.

CJ

This book is easy to read. This book is easy to be read.

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