Tempt Someone To Do vs. Tempt Someone Into Doing
Cambridge documents both tempt + person + to-infinitive and tempt + person + into + -ing for causing someone to want or agree to an action. The two constructions can be close in meaning, but their grammar differs: one uses object + to-infinitive and the other uses into + gerund.
Both patterns are standard: use “tempt someone to do…” or “tempt someone into doing…,” with “into + -ing” making the persuaded-into-action structure explicit.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Intended construction | Pattern | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| cause someone to want or agree to an action | tempt + person + to + base verb | Use the documented to-infinitive pattern. |
| present someone as being drawn or persuaded into the action | tempt + person + into + -ing | Use the documented into + gerund pattern. |
| choose between the two | both are standard in the reviewed evidence | Match the grammar and nuance you intend; do not label either pattern universally wrong. |
Quick tests
Complement-choice test
Do you want a direct object + infinitive construction, or an explicit “into” persuasion construction?
If yes: Use “tempt someone to do” for the first and “tempt someone into doing” for the second.
If no: Recast the sentence if neither meaning fits.
Caveat: The two constructions can be close in meaning, but one uses a to-infinitive and the other uses the preposition “into” followed by -ing.
Examples
The discount tempted me to order a second copy.
The documented object + to-infinitive pattern names the tempting action.
The offer tempted us into staying an extra night.
“Into + -ing” presents the action as something the subject was drawn into.
Nothing could tempt her to skip the final check.
The to-infinitive construction remains standard in the negative context.
Further guidance
Boundary
The two constructions can be close in meaning, but their grammar differs: one uses object + to-infinitive and the other uses into + gerund.
Construction
Cambridge documents both tempt + person + to-infinitive and tempt + person + into + -ing for causing someone to want or agree to an action.
Decision
Both patterns are standard: use “tempt someone to do…” or “tempt someone into doing…,” with “into + -ing” making the persuaded-into-action structure explicit.
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.
- tempt — Cambridge English Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Tempt + person + to-infinitive and tempt + person + into + -ing constructions