Nag Someone Into Doing vs. Nag Someone To Do
Cambridge directly documents nag + object + to-infinitive for repeatedly criticizing or urging someone in order to make them do something. Cambridge separately documents nag someone about something/doing something, which names the subject of repeated criticism rather than the same complement structure as object + to-infinitive.
Use “nag someone to do something” for the directly documented action complement; do not infer “nag someone into doing” as the parallel pattern from this evidence.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| repeatedly urge or criticize a person so that they perform an action | nag + person + to-infinitive | Use the directly documented action complement. |
| identify the subject of repeated criticism | nag + person + about + noun/-ing | This is a separate documented pattern. |
| nag + person + into + -ing as a presumed parallel complement | not established here | Do not treat it as interchangeable solely from this evidence. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you naming the action you repeatedly urge the person to perform?
If yes: Use “nag someone to do something.”
If no: If you are naming the topic of the nagging, “nag someone about something/doing something” is a separate construction.
Caveat: This guide distinguishes the directly reviewed complement patterns; it does not claim to catalogue every possible idiomatic sentence containing “nag.”
Examples
She nagged him to call the repair service.
The to-infinitive names the action she repeatedly urged him to perform.
They kept nagging us about leaving dishes in the sink.
“About” introduces the topic of the repeated criticism.
He nagged the team to finish the paperwork.
The documented object + to-infinitive pattern names the requested action.
Further guidance
Boundary
Cambridge separately documents nag someone about something/doing something, which names the subject of repeated criticism rather than the same complement structure as object + to-infinitive.
Construction
Cambridge directly documents nag + object + to-infinitive for repeatedly criticizing or urging someone in order to make them do something.
Decision
Use “nag someone to do something” for the directly documented action complement; do not infer “nag someone into doing” as the parallel pattern from this evidence.
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.
- nag — Cambridge English Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Nag + object + to-infinitive construction and separate nag-about pattern