require someone to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "require someone to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone is obligated or expected to perform a specific action or task. Example: "The job will require someone to manage the team and oversee project deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But that will require someone to support it," he says.

The Guardian

First, it would require someone to judge that the debt position is unsustainable.

The Economist

Most donations require someone to die before an ailment has ravaged his insides.

The Economist

All these automated machines require someone to service them and tell them what to do.

The Economist

However, that would require someone to have been put in fear of immediate unlawful violence.

The Guardian

An Orthodox Jew may not require someone to work on certain holidays.

The New York Times - Magazine

Only very few professions require someone to be totally flexible - and I mean totally.

The Guardian

And Zume's kitchen will always require someone to prep and load food into the robots.

The Washington Post

"Bullshit is unavoidable whenever circumstances require someone to talk without knowing what he is talking about," he writes.

The Guardian

Social-media channels require someone to actively manage them, and that's often a greater investment than an advertising campaign in terms of manpower".

The New York Times

Existing tanks would require someone to stop about every 30 km (19 mi) to swap tanks.But don't rush off to sell your oil-major stocks just yet.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "require someone to", ensure the context clearly indicates who is imposing the requirement and what the specific action is. This avoids ambiguity and makes the sentence more direct.

Common error

Avoid using "require someone to" in passive constructions where the actor imposing the requirement is unclear. Instead, specify who is doing the requiring for clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "require someone to" functions as an infinitive phrase used to express obligation, necessity, or expectation for a person to perform a specific action. As demonstrated by Ludwig AI, it serves to impose a condition or duty on an individual.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "require someone to" is a grammatically correct and very common construction used to express obligation or necessity. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across various contexts, including news, academia, and general writing. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in specifying who is imposing the requirement and the action being required. Be mindful of constructing clear, active sentences to enhance readability. Its prevalence in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times underscores its acceptance and suitability for formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

need someone to

Indicates a necessity for someone's action or assistance.

expect someone to

Implies an anticipation or assumption of someone's action.

obligate someone to

This phrase indicates a formal or legal duty to perform an action.

compel someone to

Implies a forceful or irresistible pressure to do something.

authorize someone to

Grants permission or power to perform an action.

mandate someone to

Suggests an official order or command.

task someone with

Assigns a specific responsibility or duty to someone.

charge someone with

Similar to task, but can imply a greater level of responsibility.

enlist someone to

Invites or recruits someone for a specific purpose.

call on someone to

Formally requests or appeals to someone to take action.

FAQs

How can I use "require someone to" in a sentence?

Use "require someone to" to express that a person is obligated or expected to perform a certain action. For example, "The new policy will require someone to monitor the server logs daily."

What are some alternatives to "require someone to"?

Alternatives include "obligate someone to", "compel someone to", or "need someone to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "requires someone to" instead of "require someone to"?

The form "requires someone to" is used when the subject is singular, while "require someone to" is used with plural subjects or in the infinitive form. For instance, "The regulation requires someone to sign off on the documents."

What's the difference between "require someone to" and "ask someone to"?

"Require someone to" implies an obligation or necessity, whereas "ask someone to" is a polite request and does not necessarily suggest an obligation. The former is more forceful and the latter is more gentle.