The structure It + infinitive is used to make a comment or judgment about an action. Adding for (someone) specifies who is performing that action.
1. The Basic Structure: It is + Adjective + to-infinitive
This pattern is used to make a general statement about an action. The person performing the action is either unknown, unimportant, or understood from the context.
Formula:
It + be + Adjective + (not) + to-infinitive
Examples:
* It is important to be on time. (This is a general rule for everyone.)
* It was difficult to solve the problem. (A general comment about the problem's difficulty.)
* It's nice to meet you. (A general social comment.)
* It is not easy to learn Japanese. (A general statement about the difficulty of the action.)
2. Adding the Subject: It is + Adjective + for someone + to-infinitive
This is the structure you asked about. We add for + a noun or pronoun to specify exactly who we are talking about. It clarifies for whom the action is important, difficult, easy, etc.
Formula:
It + be + Adjective + for + Noun/Object Pronoun + to-infinitive
Important Note: When using a pronoun after "for," you must use the object pronoun (me, you, him, her, it, us, them), not the subject pronoun (I, you, he, she, it, we, they).
Let's compare the examples from above:
* General: It is important to be on time.
* Specific: It is important for you to be on time.
* General: It was difficult to solve the problem.
* Specific: It was difficult for me to solve the problem.
* General: It is not easy to learn Japanese.
* Specific: It is not easy for most Europeans to learn Japanese.
More Examples:
* It is possible for him to win the race.
* It is unusual for Sarah to be late.
* It's necessary for the students to read the book.
* It will be a pleasure for us to host you.
3. Variation with Noun Phrases
You can also use a noun phrase instead of an adjective in this structure.
Formula:
It + be + Noun Phrase + for + Noun/Object Pronoun + to-infinitive
Examples:
* It would be a mistake for them to ignore the warning.
* It's a good idea for us to check the weather before we leave.
* It is a priority for the company to improve customer service.
Summary
| Structure | Purpose | Example |
| It is + Adj + to-infinitive | Makes a general comment about an action. | It is dangerous to swim here. |
| It is + Adj + for someone + to-infinitive | Specifies the person for whom the comment is true. | It is dangerous for children to swim here. |
| It is + Noun Phrase + for someone + to-infinitive | Uses a noun phrase for the comment. | It's a bad idea for you to go alone. |
This structure is a great way to express opinions and make judgments in a way that sounds natural and fluent in English.