Hello,

I am a teacher trying to explain phrases such as:

'It is easy to cook'

'It is important to remember'

The structure is pronoun + is (verb) + adj. + verb in infinitive

The main thing I want to emphasise is the use of infinitive at the end (you cannot just say 'it is easy cook')

I can't find a name or rule for this anywhere. Can you help me?

Anna

The best I can suggest as a single rule is that a clause, (and in your example, the main clause is the whole sentence), has one main verb/verb form.
e.g.

It IS easy to cook.
This mutton HAS BEEN hard to cook.

So, at this stage of their learning, tell them that any other verb is the infinitive.

JUst how complicated this really is, can be seen from:

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-lesson-infinitive.php#.U3PD1cbxW3I

The above will bring up a page of 'searches'. Just click on the first, myenglishpage.