he exert himself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he exert himself" is not correct in written English.
The correct form should be "he exerts himself" or "he exerted himself" depending on the tense. Example: "During the competition, he exerts himself to achieve the best results."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He must have heard about the show that Amadeo is putting on, because when else does he exert himself, except to buy liquor at the Peerless?

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

She also saw that he seemed to be laboring more when he exerted himself.

The New York Times

He exerts himself so much to do simple things and then he's gone.

The New Yorker

When he exerts himself to that degree, it is always with a purpose.

The New York Times

He exerts himself mightily, as if to achieve with brute power what could not be attained with finesse.

The New Yorker

He exerted himself to get his parents out of Vienna and thus be done with the whole European mess.

The New Yorker

In an interview published Monday, Staal told NHL.com that Marc still had headaches when he exerted himself physically.

The New York Times - Sports

Dr. Sann closes his eyes when he exerts himself, and rests briefly between machines, but he does not look as if he is knocking himself out.

The New York Times

He breathes heavily when he exerts himself, but still climbs up and down the house's central stairway, which is lined with his own art.

The New York Times - Arts

Though he exerted himself in Parisian musical life as a teacher, radio administrator and concertgoer, his aesthetic reserve seemed to carry over into his personal life.

The New York Times - Arts

As he got older and realised that the life remaining to him could not be of great length, he exerted himself even more.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct verb form. The phrase should be either "he exerts himself" (present tense) or "he exerted himself" (past tense).

Common error

Ensure the verb "exert" agrees with the subject pronoun "he". Using the base form "exert" without the appropriate conjugation is a common mistake. Remember to use "exerts" for the present tense and "exerted" for the past tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he exert himself" functions as a subject and verb, but it's grammatically incorrect. The verb "exert" requires conjugation to agree with the third-person singular pronoun "he". Ludwig AI identifies this as an error, suggesting the correct forms are "he exerts himself" or "he exerted himself".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he exert himself" is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are "he exerts himself" (present tense) and "he exerted himself" (past tense). According to Ludwig AI, the phrase needs correction before use. While the intended meaning is to describe someone applying effort, the incorrect conjugation undermines its effectiveness. It's important to ensure proper verb conjugation to maintain grammatical accuracy across various contexts. Better alternatives include "he puts in effort" or "he makes an effort".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he applies himself

Focuses on dedicating oneself to a task, more formal than the original.

he puts in effort

Focuses on the application of effort, replacing the more formal "exert".

he makes an effort

Similar to "puts in effort", emphasizing the act of trying.

he tries hard

Highlights the intensity of the effort.

he strives

Indicates a determined effort to achieve something.

he works diligently

Emphasizes consistent and careful effort.

he dedicates himself

Highlights commitment and devotion of effort.

he labors

Implies strenuous or toilsome effort.

he strains

Suggests excessive effort, potentially to a breaking point.

he taxes himself

Implies pushing oneself to the limit of one's abilities or resources.

FAQs

How should I properly conjugate "he exert himself" in a sentence?

The correct conjugations are "he exerts himself" (present tense) or "he exerted himself" (past tense). For example, "During the competition, he exerts himself to achieve the best results" or "He exerted himself to finish the project on time".

What is a more common way to say "he exert himself"?

More common alternatives include phrases like "he puts in effort", "he makes an effort", or "he tries hard", which are less formal and more frequently used in everyday language.

What is the difference between "he exerts himself" and "he applies himself"?

"He exerts himself" generally refers to physical or mental effort applied to a specific task. "He applies himself" implies dedication and focus towards a goal, often over a longer period. While both involve effort, "applies himself" suggests a more sustained and directed approach.

Is "he exert himself" grammatically correct?

No, "he exert himself" is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are "he exerts himself" (present tense) or "he exerted himself" (past tense). Using the base form "exert" with the pronoun "he" violates standard English grammar rules.