Impel Someone Into Doing vs. Impel Someone To Do
Cambridge directly documents “impel someone to do something” for causing someone to feel that an action is necessary. The cited entry directly supports object + to-infinitive; it does not establish impel + object + into + -ing as an equivalent complement pattern.
Use “impel someone to do” for the directly documented pattern; do not infer equal support for “impel someone into doing.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| cause someone to feel an action is necessary | impel + person + to-infinitive | Use the directly documented object + to-infinitive pattern. |
| proposed “into + -ing” equivalent | impel + person + into + -ing | Do not infer equal support from the cited entry. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Does “impel” mean causing someone to feel compelled or driven to perform the following action?
If yes: Use “impel someone to do something.”
If no: Choose a different verb/construction if that meaning does not apply.
Caveat: The evidence directly supports object + to-infinitive; it does not establish “impel someone into doing” as a freely interchangeable complement.
Examples
Concern for safety impelled them to stop the test.
The documented complement is object + to-infinitive.
The evidence impelled the committee to reconsider its decision.
“To reconsider” names the action caused by the pressure.
A sense of duty impelled her to speak.
The to-infinitive follows the person affected by the motive.
Further guidance
Boundary
The cited entry directly supports object + to-infinitive; it does not establish impel + object + into + -ing as an equivalent complement pattern.
Construction
Cambridge directly documents “impel someone to do something” for causing someone to feel that an action is necessary.
Decision
Use “impel someone to do” for the directly documented pattern; do not infer equal support for “impel someone into doing.”
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.
- impel — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Direct construction evidence for impel someone to do something