When easy is difficult

Posted by Pak Guru on February 26th, 2018 | 0 comments | collocation, gampang, grammar, IELTS, Indo English, speaking, sulit, susah, vocabulary, writing

Animals that are used to perform are easy to get tired.

If we reduce this to its most basic grammar, we get:

• Animals are easy.

Obviously that’s not what the writer intended. Maybe we should look at some examples!

• My answer was pretty easy to understand.
  = My answer was easy.
• The daily instructions are very easy to follow.
  = The daily instructions are easy.
• The game is really pretty easy to play.
  = The game is easy.

Now contrast the previous examples with the following.

• Generally it is easier for men to handle horses.
  = Handling horses is easy (NOT men are easy!)
• It is easy for smartphone users to use QR codes.
  = Using QR codes is easy (NOT smartphone users are easy!)
• It is easy for people to misunderstand religious language and ritual.
  = Misunderstanding is easy (NOT people are easy!)

It is easy for us to correct our opening example if we begin “It is easy for.!”

• It is easy for animals that are used to perform to get tired.
  [it is easy/difficult for + noun + to + v1]

This structure is shown in several previous posts – here, and in the song Lemon Squeezy. Check them out!

An alternative improvement would be to use an adverb:

• Animals that are used to perform get tired easily.

..and for a higher IELTS score, avoid ‘get’ by using the verb form of ‘tired’:

• Animals that are used to perform tire easily.

Animal rights

If you’re studying in Australia you should make an effort to see the amazing Circus OZ – an animal-free circus!