Embedded Files
Common Mistakes
Common Mistakes
We stopped the car for looking at the accident.
We stopped the car to look at the accident.
I stopped to listen to the music on full volume as soon as my parents came here.
I stopped listening to the music on full volume as soon as my parents came here.
Don’t worry - I remembered posting your letter, they said it should arrive on Monday.
Don’t worry - I remembered to post your letter, they said it should arrive on Monday.
They stopped themselves at the motorway cafe to get some food.
They stopped at the motorway cafe to get some food.
I stopped to go to the disco when I was in my mid 20s.
I stopped going to the disco when I was in my mid 20s.
Correct Form
Correct Form
I stopped to look at the shop windows. (I interrupted what I was doing before).
I stopped looking at FB when the boss came in. (I was looking at FB before he came in).
I remember going to the post office. (I recall the moment in which I went).
I remembered to go to the post office. (I didn’t forget).
Guidelines
Guidelines
to stop + -ing = to interrupt a continuous activity (e.g. I stopped smoking last year).
to stop + infinitive = to interrupt one activity in order to be able to start a new (e.g. I stopped to tie my shoelace, i.e. I was walking along the street and I had to stop so that I could deal with my shoelaces).
to stop is not generally reflexive: We stopped to get gas. Not:
We stopped ourselves to get gas.
to remember doing something = to recall and visualize the moment in which you did / were doing something.
to remember to do something = not to forget to do a task.
Practice
Practice
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