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 him to join our team.

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 an essential skill in sales.

  To persuade is an essential skill in sales.

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

  She wants me to persuade the client.

  She wants me to persuade the client.

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

  I need effective strategies to persuade customers.

  I need effective strategies to persuade customers.

  • "*To persuade* customers" modifies the noun "strategies."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (effective strategies *to persuade* customers).

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
• hope
• want
• choose
• demand

Example

We decided to persuade him to change his mind.

They hope to persuade their parents to let them go on a trip.

He wants to persuade the committee to approve his proposal.

She chose to persuade her audience with powerful arguments.

The protesters demanded to persuade the government to take action.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• resist
• understand

Example

They recommend persuading customers with compelling arguments.

He avoids persuading others through manipulation.

Can you imagine yourself persuading a large audience?

She resists persuading people against their will.

They understand the importance of persuading stakeholders for success.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to persuade people to support important causes. I like persuading people to support important causes.

We started to persuade our clients to switch to our product. We started persuading our clients to switch to our product.

He began to persuade his colleagues to adopt a new approach. He began persuading his colleagues to adopt a new approach.