Practice
Insist on: use the correct preposition in English
Sign in to saveA guest wants a receipt. A colleague wants to check the figures again. In both situations, English uses insist on before the thing or action they demand.
Use insist on before a noun, pronoun, or -ing form when you demand or strongly want something to happen.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
insist on checking /ɪnˈsɪst ɒn ˈtʃek.ɪŋ/
The short answer
Say insist on something or insist on doing something. Use on after insist when you name the demand or the action a person strongly wants.
The customer insisted on a written receipt.
Why it works: A written receipt is the thing the customer demanded.
4 more examples
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Maya insisted on paying for the meal.
Paying is an action, so it follows on in the -ing form.
Not this:Maya
insisted to payfor the meal. What changes: After insist on, use paying rather than to pay when the action is the demand. -
The coach insisted on arriving early.
Arriving names the action the coach required.
Not this:The coach
insisted to arriveearly. What changes: The usual pattern is insist on plus an -ing form: insisted on arriving. -
We insisted on seeing the safety plan before the event.
Seeing the plan is the action the group demanded.
Not this:We
insisted aboutseeing the safety plan before the event. What changes: About does not complete insist when the group is demanding an action. -
The manager insisted that everyone wear a badge.
That introduces a clause with its own subject, everyone, and verb, wear.
Not this:The manager
insisted on everyone wearinga badge. What changes: This pattern is also possible, but it uses an -ing form after on rather than a full that clause.
Read the full guide
Find the demand first. If it is a noun, put it after insist on. If it is an action, use the -ing form after insist on. A full clause can follow insist that instead, so the sentence pattern changes with the words that come next.
Use insist on for a demand
Use insist on when a person demands a thing or an action. The phrase tells the listener that the person is firm about what should happen.
The visitor insisted on a copy of the agreement.
A copy of the agreement is the demanded thing, so it follows insist on.
Put a noun after on
A noun or noun phrase can follow insist on. The noun names what the person wants or requires: a receipt, an answer, a rule, or a safer route.
The parents insisted on an explanation for the delay.
An explanation is the object of the demand. About would not make this insist pattern.
A traveler demands a seat by the window. Which preposition follows insisted?
Use on: The traveler insisted on a seat by the window.
Use an -ing form for an action
When the demand is an action, use insist on followed by an -ing form. This structure works for actions the subject wants to do and actions the subject expects other people to allow.
Jordan insisted on speaking to the technician directly.
Speaking is the demanded action. The -ing form follows on, so do not use insist to speak here.
Use insist that for a full clause
Use insist that when the next part has its own subject and verb. The clause gives the complete demand, such as that a meeting start later or that a door remain closed.
The organizer insisted that the doors remain open.
That introduces the subject the doors and the verb remain. With on, use a noun phrase or an -ing form instead.
Choose on, not about
About can follow verbs such as talk, worry, and argue when the topic is the focus. It does not normally follow insist when someone demands a thing or action. Learn insist on as a fixed pattern.
They argued about the timetable, but they insisted on a later start.
About belongs with argued because the timetable is the topic. On belongs with insisted because a later start is the demand.
Someone strongly wants to check the contract before signing. Which phrase fits?
Use insisted on checking. The demand is an action, so checking follows on.
Before you go
Remember this
Use insist on before a thing or an action in the -ing form: insist on a receipt and insist on checking. Use insist that before a clause with its own subject and verb. Avoid insist about when you mean demand.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Insist on: use the correct preposition in English"
Is it insist on or insist about?
Use insist on when someone demands a thing or strongly wants an action to happen. Say insist on a receipt or insist on checking the details. Insist about is not the usual phrase for this meaning.
The customer insisted on a written receipt.
What can follow insist on?
A noun, pronoun, or -ing form can follow insist on. You can insist on a refund, insist on it, or insist on paying. Choose the -ing form when the demand is an action.
The customer insisted about a written receipt.
Can I use insist that instead of insist on?
Use insist that when the next words form a clause with its own subject and verb. Use insist on when you name a thing or use an -ing form. Both patterns express a firm demand.
Maya insisted on paying for the meal.
Is insist upon correct?
Yes. Insist upon has the same basic meaning as insist on, but it sounds more formal and appears more often in formal writing. In ordinary conversation, insist on is the more common choice.
Maya insisted to pay for the meal.
Does insist on always sound rude?
No. Insist on shows that a person is firm, but the tone depends on the situation. It can describe a reasonable safety rule or request as well as a disagreement. Use a softer verb when the demand is not strong.
The coach insisted on arriving early.