Advise Doing vs. Advise Someone To Do
Both patterns are standard. “Advise waiting” recommends an action generally or in context, while “advise him to wait” names the person who is advised to perform it. A that-clause is another standard option.
Use “advise + -ing” for a recommended action without naming its performer; use “advise + person + to-infinitive” when you name the person receiving the advice.
Key details
Choose the right form
| What you name | Pattern | Use |
|---|---|---|
| recommended action, no performer named | advise + -ing | advise waiting |
| person receiving advice | advise + person + to-infinitive | advise him to wait |
| full proposition | advise + that-clause | another standard option when the clause fits |
Quick tests
Object test
Do you explicitly name the person receiving the advice?
If yes: Use “advise + person + to-infinitive.”
If no: If you recommend the action without naming its performer, “advise + -ing” is available.
Caveat: Both main patterns are standard; the choice depends on sentence structure, not on one form being universally better.
Examples
I advise waiting until the figures are final.
The action is recommended without naming the performer.
I advised the team to wait until Friday.
The person/group receiving the advice is named.
I advised to wait until Friday.
Better: I advised the team to wait until Friday.
The object is missing from the object + infinitive pattern.
Further guidance
Clause Boundary
Advise also allows that-clauses; the choice among these patterns depends on whether the writer names the advised person and how the recommendation is framed.
Ing Pattern
Use advise + -ing to recommend an action without inserting a direct object for the person who should do it.
Object Pattern
Use advise + person + to-infinitive when the sentence names the person receiving the advice and the action advised.
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.
- advise — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Advise + -ing, advise + object + to-infinitive, and advise + that-clause patterns