When is it possible to change the position of an infinitive clause

Question

Hello, my friends.There are two types of usages about my question one of which ends with a preposition.1-) She is hard to be with. (with has no object but actually, it has a hidden object of "she".It's the same as "It is hard to be with her")2-) This topic is hard to talk about. (It's the same as "It's hard to talk about this topic.")In those examples, we can't change infinitives' position.3-) To be with, she is hard.4-) To talk about, this topic is hard.These usages 3-4 are totally wrong(I think)The question is about sentences ends without prepositions, with completed infinitive clauses.5-) I am ready to have lots of fun.I think that we can put "to have lots of fun" at the beginning because it doesn't refer to "me". 6-) To have lots of fun, I am ready.What do you think? Thanks.

Clive · Accepted Answer

I woldn't say sentences like those are incorrect. I'd just say that they are unnatural and uncommon.

CalifJim · Answer

Jawel
1-) She is hard to be with. (with has no object but actually, it has a hidden object of "she".
It's the same as "It is hard to be with her")
2-) This topic is hard to talk about. (It's the same as "It's hard to talk about this topic.")
In those examples, we can't change infinitives' position.
3-) ~~To be with, she is hard.~~ You need: To be with her is hard.
4-) ~~To talk about, this topic is hard.~~ To talk about this topic is hard. Your placement of the commas shows you are grouping the elements of these sentences incorrectly.
These usages 3-4 are totally wrong(I think) Yes, but not as wrong as you may think.

I think you have misunderstood the part about moving the infinitive to the beginning.

The general topic in question here is "tough movement". The variants of such a structure are these:

This topic is hard to talk about.
It is hard to talk about this topic.
To talk about this topic is hard.
Talking about this topic is hard.

Your other example (Note the change from 'she' to 'her'):

She is hard to be with.
It is hard to be with her.
To be with her is hard.
Being with her is hard.

Another:

These calculations are tedious to deal with.
It is tedious to deal with these calculations.
To deal with these calculations is tedious.
Dealing with these calculations is tedious.

And:

The news was painful to hear.
It was painful to hear the news.
To hear the news was painful.
Hearing the news was painful.

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

[Your example with "to have lots of fun" has nothing to do with tough movement because "to be ready" is not the sort of predicate that licenses those kinds of variants.]

CJ

When is it possible to change the position of an infinitive clause

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