insist可以用作及物动词和不及物动词。下面对其常见的三个意思的用法及其考点进行分析。
1.insist表示“坚持要求，一定要”，它可以用作及物动词和不及物动词，insist和on或upon连用。从结构上讲，有下面四种不同结构：
1）insist on 后面跟动名词。比如：
She insisted on writing at once.她坚持要马上写信。I insist on seeing it.我一定要看。
Why do you insist on annoying her? 你为什么非要惹她生气?She insisted upon lending them her car.她坚持要把车借给他们。
2）insist on后+形容词性物主代词+动名词+动名词的逻辑宾语的结构。比如：
I must insist on your giving me a straight forward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的答复。He insisted upon her staying in London.他坚持要她留在伦敦。
I ought to have insisted on your taking a thorough rest before you left Beijing. 我应该坚持让你在离开北京之前彻底休息一下。
3）insist on +逻辑主语（名词）+动词ing形式。比如：
The Russians insist on all decisions being unanimous.俄罗斯人坚持所有的决定必须一致通过。
We must insist on state help being given to the actual producers.我们必须坚持国家对实际生产者给予帮助。He insisted upon a second message being sent.他坚持要再送一个口信。
4）insist on后跟名词。比如：
I insist upon an answer.我坚持要一个答复。I insist on quietness.我坚持安静。They always insist on a high standard when the pupils read aloud.学生大声朗读时，他们总是坚持高标准。
I must insist on more regular hours.我必须坚持更规律的工作时间。Our families insisted on[upon] evacuation.我们的家人坚持要撤离。
2.insist用作及物动词，表示“坚持说”。比如：
He insisted that they could expect him for tea.他坚持说他们可以等他来喝茶。He insisted that I ought to see Brown alone.他坚持要我单独去见布朗。
Martha insisted that she needed all she made to live on.玛莎坚持说她需要所有的钱来维持生活。I insisted(to everyone) that he was wrong.我(向大家)坚持说他错了。
She insisted that she heard somebody in the house.她坚持说她听到屋里有人。
3.insist用作不及物动词，表示“坚持（说），强调”，多跟on 或 upon 连用。比如：
But as a member of a body, I cannot insist upon my personal opinion.但作为一个机构的一员，我不能坚持我的个人意见。I insisted on my correctness.我坚持认为我是正确的。
She insists on the importance of being punctual.她强调守时的重要性。He insists on the need to work hard.他坚持认为必须努力工作。
4. 考点
1）insist作不及物动词时常与介词on或 upon 连用，后接名词或动名词。但不能用不定式作宾语。常见错误：He insisted to leave。应该说He insisted on leaving。
2）insist作及物动词时，一般接that从句，如果要表达要求做某事时，从句中的谓语多用虚拟语气，即用原形动词，或者用should加原形动词。比如：
He insisted that Jennie send her to dancing-school.他坚持要珍妮送她去舞蹈学校。
I insisted that he (should)go.我坚持要他去。I insisted that he should come with us.我坚持要他和我们一起去。