Confused about fácil/difícil + infinitive and fácil/difícil + de + infinitive in Spanish?
It's often difficult to know whether to say:
es fácil/difícil de hacer or es fácil/difícil hacer
We can say both. Have a look at these examples:
We use the preposition "de" after the adjective when the subject is "the thing" (el armario), not when the subject is "doing something" (montar el armario).
Here are other examples with the adjective difícil:
This is true for all adjectives. Here are more contrasting examples:
El subjuntivo en español es complicado de explicar.The subjunctive in Spanish is complicated to explain.
Es complicado explicar el subjuntivo en español.It is complicated to explain the subjunctive in Spanish/Explaining the subjunctive in Spanish is complicated.
It is common to see muy and tan in front of the adjective in this construction. For example:
See also Using [verb] + tan + [adjective/adverb] + que to say "so... that..." and Exclamatory sentence in Spanish: qué + noun + más/tan + adjective
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Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics
Examples and resources
El sonido de los pájaros es agradable de escuchar por las mañanas.The sound of birds is nice to hear in the morning.
La historia es muy difícil de seguir. Tiene muchos personajes.The plot is very difficult to follow. It has a lot of characters.
Montar el armario es fácil.Putting together the wardrobe is easy/It is easy to put the wardrobe together.
Es complicado explicar el subjuntivo en español.It is complicated to explain the subjunctive in Spanish/Explaining the subjunctive in Spanish is complicated.
