Cajole Someone Into Doing vs. Cajole Someone To Do
Cambridge directly documents cajole + object + into + -ing for persuading someone through pleasant talk or promises to do something they may not want to do. Cajole can also be used without the into-complement when the act of persuasion is understood, so the page distinguishes verb meaning from the syntax used to name the resulting action.
Use “cajole someone into doing something” for the directly documented complement pattern; this source does not establish “cajole someone to do” as an equal alternative.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| persuade a person so a resulting action follows | cajole + person + into + -ing | use the directly documented complement |
| proposed infinitive alternative | cajole + person + to-infinitive | do not treat as equally supported by this evidence |
Quick tests
Complement test
Are you naming the action someone was persuaded into performing?
If yes: Use “cajole someone into doing something.”
If no: If no resulting action is named, use another attested construction for the intended sense.
Caveat: This guide describes the reviewed complement pattern, not whether the persuasion itself was appropriate.
Examples
They cajoled him into joining the committee.
“Into + -ing” names the resulting action.
She was cajoled into staying for one more meeting.
The passive keeps the same complement pattern.
They cajoled him to join the committee.
Better: They cajoled him into joining the committee.
For the reviewed meaning, use the directly documented “into + -ing” pattern.
Further guidance
Boundary
Cajole can also be used without the into-complement when the act of persuasion is understood, so the page distinguishes verb meaning from the syntax used to name the resulting action.
Construction
Cambridge directly documents cajole + object + into + -ing for persuading someone through pleasant talk or promises to do something they may not want to do.
Decision
Use “cajole someone into doing something” for the directly documented complement pattern; this source does not establish “cajole someone to do” as an equal alternative.
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.
- cajole someone into something/doing something — Cambridge English Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Cajole + object + into + -ing construction