Simple:
* The salesperson tried to persuade me to buy a new car.
* I persuaded my friend to come to the concert with me.
More complex:
* The lawyer used compelling evidence to persuade the jury of the defendant's innocence.
* It took a lot of effort, but I finally persuaded my parents to let me go on the trip.
* She persuaded him to reconsider his decision with a well-reasoned argument.
Figurative:
* The beauty of the sunset persuaded her to stay a little longer.
* The delicious smell of freshly baked cookies persuaded me to take a bite.
In the negative:
* I tried to persuade her to stay, but she was determined to leave.
* No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't persuade him to change his mind.