Be Lucky To Do vs. Lucky That Something Happened
Be Lucky To Do vs. Lucky That Something Happened distinguishes two attested complement patterns for the same adjective. Use lucky + to-infinitive for the adjective followed by its documented complement pattern; use lucky that + clause for the separately documented construction. The constructions are not interchangeable simply because they share the adjective; choose the pattern that matches the grammatical relationship you mean.
Use lucky + to-infinitive when the adjective introduces that documented complement; use lucky that + clause when you mean the second documented relationship.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| good fortune presented through an action or experience | lucky + to-infinitive | use the infinitive complement |
| good fortune expressed as a complete event or proposition | lucky that + clause | use a that-clause when the complement needs its own subject and finite verb |
Quick tests
Infinitive-or-clause test
Can the fortunate event be expressed directly as an action of the subject, or do you need a full clause?
If yes: Use “lucky to + verb” for the subject-linked infinitive event.
If no: Use “lucky that + clause” for the separately expressed event.
Caveat: Both are documented patterns; choose by clause structure rather than by a supposed difference in how much luck is involved.
Examples
We were lucky to find a table before the rush.
The infinitive presents the fortunate event linked to the subject.
We were lucky that the last train was still running.
The that-clause has its own subject and finite verb.
She was lucky to arrive early, and lucky that the office had opened ahead of schedule.
The example shows how the complement shape controls the construction.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use lucky + to-infinitive for the adjective followed by its documented complement pattern; use lucky that + clause for the separately documented construction.
Style Boundary
Treat the distinction as a complement-pattern choice, not as a claim that every nearby preposition or clause is impossible. Follow the directly documented construction for the intended relationship.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- LUCKY — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Direct dictionary evidence for lucky + to-infinitive and lucky that-clause.