To Persuade vs Persuading Infinitives & Gerunds

When and How to Use Each Expression?

Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!

To persuade (Infinitive)

Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to persuade" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action

Example

I want to persuade my parents to let me go to the party.

Persuading (Gerund)

Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "persuading" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.

Example

Persuading others requires effective communication skills.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To persuade (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To persuade is a valuable skill in business.

  To persuade is a valuable skill in business.

  • "*To persuade*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a valuable skill in business).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to persuade our friends to join us.

  She wants me to persuade our friends to join us.

  • "Me *to persuade* our friends to join us" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to persuade* our friends to join us).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a compelling argument to persuade them.

  We need a compelling argument to persuade them.

  • "*To persuade* them" modifies the noun "argument."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a compelling argument *to persuade* them).

Persuading (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Persuading people can be challenging.

  Persuading people can be challenging.

  • "*Persuading* people" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can be) + adjective (challenging).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy persuading others to try new things.

  I enjoy persuading others to try new things.

  • "*Persuading* others to try new things" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*persuading* others to try new things).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for persuading people.

  She has a talent for persuading people.

  • "For *persuading* people" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *persuading* people).

Verbs Taking Infinitives/Gerunds as Objects

The following are verbs that can take only the base form of the verb (infinitive), only the -ing form (gerund), or both.

Verbs Taking Infinitives as Objects

• decide
• plan
• refuse
• wish
• demand

Example

They decided to persuade their boss to give them a raise.

She plans to persuade her teacher to extend the deadline.

He refused to persuade his team to take unnecessary risks.

We wish to persuade the committee to support our proposal.

The customers demand to persuade the company to improve their services.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• mind
• practice

Example

They recommend persuading customers to buy their product.

He avoids persuading others to do something against their will.

We are considering persuading the team to change their strategy.

Do you mind persuading your colleagues to attend the meeting?

She practices persuading her clients to make informed decisions.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to persuade people to support her cause. She likes persuading people to support her cause.

They started to persuade their classmates to join the club. They started persuading their classmates to join the club.

He began to persuade his parents to let him travel alone. He began persuading his parents to let him travel alone.