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When to use the GERUND and when to use the INFINITIVE after the verb STOP
What’s the difference between stop + to and stop + ing?!
Look at the following sentences:
✅ Have you stopped making progress with English?
❌ Have you stopped to make progress with progress?
✅ I’ll stop to have a coffee on the way up to Glasgow.
❌ I’ll stop having a coffee on the way up to Glasgow.
❓REFLECT: Why do you think sometimes we have to use the gerund after the verb STOP and sometimes we have to use the infinitive?
Let’s find out! 🙌
STOP + GERUND
When we use stop + gerund (the ING form) we are showing that the action is not happening any more. It can also mean “to quit.”
Here are some examples:
▶️ I’ve stopped making progress with my English. (I’m no longer making any progress)
▶️ I need to stop drinking so much Prosecco. (I need to reduce, or quit this habit)
▶️ Eli stopped playing tennis because of her sore leg. (Eli quit playing tennis)
STOP + INFINITIVE
When we use stop + infinitive (to+verb) , we mean “in order to” or “for the purpose of.” It means that someone or something stops or interrupts an activity so that they can do something else.
Here are some examples:
▶️. I’ll stop to have a coffee on the way up to Glasgow. (I will interrupt my journey /schedule in order to drink coffee)
▶️. He stopped to smoke a cigarette. (He was doing something, then stopped in order to smoke)
▶️. I stopped to buy some veggies on the way home. (I went to the shop in order to buy veggies)
NOTE: We often say “stop off” or “stop by [place]” in such cases:
I stopped off to drink a cup of coffee.
I stopped by the shop to buy veggies on my way home.
🤩 TO SUM UP
To help you remember the difference, memorise this example:
I stopped smoking (I gave up smoking. I never smoke now.)
I stopped to smoke (I took a break in order to smoke)
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