Prompt Someone To Do vs. Prompt Doing
Cambridge documents prompt + person + to-infinitive for causing someone to decide to say or do something and also allows ordinary noun objects such as a response or speculation. A gerund phrase can sometimes function as a noun-like object, but its participant structure is not automatically equivalent to object + to-infinitive.
Use “prompt someone to do something” when a person is caused to act; do not assume “prompt doing” is the same person-plus-action construction.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| cause or lead a particular person to act | prompt + person + to-infinitive | Use the documented person-plus-action construction. |
| cause a response, discussion, or other noun-like result | prompt + noun object | Ordinary noun objects are also documented. |
| treat bare -ing as automatically equivalent to person + to-infinitive | do not assume equivalent participant structure | A gerund phrase can be noun-like without expressing the same grammar. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you identifying the person who was caused or led to perform the action?
If yes: Use “prompt someone to do something.”
If no: If the object is a response, discussion, or other noun-like result, use the appropriate noun-object construction.
Caveat: A gerund phrase can sometimes function as a noun-like object, but that does not make bare “prompt doing” structurally equivalent to “prompt someone to do.”
Examples
The warning prompted us to check the settings.
The affected people are followed by a to-infinitive naming their action.
The announcement prompted a discussion.
“Prompt” can take a noun object naming the result.
Her question prompted him to explain the change.
The person-plus-action pattern uses a to-infinitive.
Further guidance
Boundary
A gerund phrase can sometimes function as a noun-like object, but its participant structure is not automatically equivalent to object + to-infinitive.
Construction
Cambridge documents prompt + person + to-infinitive for causing someone to decide to say or do something and also allows ordinary noun objects such as a response or speculation.
Decision
Use “prompt someone to do something” when a person is caused to act; do not assume “prompt doing” is the same person-plus-action construction.
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.
- prompt someone to do something — Cambridge English Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Prompt + person + to-infinitive for causing or triggering an action