Stop + Gerund vs Infinitive
Use the gerund to end an action and the infinitive to start a new one for a purpose.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use `stop + -ing` to say an activity has ended or finished.
- Use `stop + to` to explain the reason or purpose for stopping.
- The gerund form focuses on the action that is now over.
- The infinitive form focuses on the new action you are starting.
Quick Reference
| Pattern | Meaning | Result | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stop + Gerund | Finish an activity | Action ends | I stopped running. |
| Stop + Infinitive | Reason for stopping | New action starts | I stopped to run. |
| Stop + Noun | Halt an object | Object stays still | Stop the bus! |
| Stop + From | Prevent something | Action never starts | Stop him from falling. |
| Stop + Habit | Quit permanently | Lifestyle change | I stopped smoking. |
| Stop + Break | Temporary pause | Short interruption | Stop to rest. |
Key Examples
3 of 8I stopped eating chocolate to lose some weight.
Dejé de comer chocolate para perder algo de peso.
He stopped to eat chocolate during his hike.
Él se detuvo para comer chocolate durante su caminata.
The engine stopped making that strange noise.
El motor dejó de hacer ese ruido extraño.
The 'Why' Test
If you can replace 'to' with 'in order to', you definitely need the infinitive. For example: 'I stopped (in order to) buy bread'.
The Smoking Trap
Never tell a doctor 'I stopped to smoke' unless you just started a cigarette break. Use 'I stopped smoking' to say you quit!
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Use `stop + -ing` to say an activity has ended or finished.
- Use `stop + to` to explain the reason or purpose for stopping.
- The gerund form focuses on the action that is now over.
- The infinitive form focuses on the new action you are starting.
Overview
Ever felt confused by one tiny word? You are not alone. English loves to change meanings with small tweaks. The verb stop is a perfect example. Using -ing or to changes everything. It is the difference between quitting a job and pausing to work. This guide will make it crystal clear for you. We will look at how to use both correctly. You will sound more natural in no time. Let's dive into the world of stop!
How This Grammar Works
Think of stop as a fork in the road. One path leads to the end of an action. The other path leads to a new purpose. When you use a gerund (-ing), the action itself stops. When you use an infinitive (to), you stop for a reason. It is like a grammar traffic light. Red means the action is finished. Green means you stop to start something else. Even native speakers pause to think about this sometimes! It is all about what happens to the main verb.
Formation Pattern
- 1Creating these sentences is quite simple. You just need to follow two basic patterns.
- 2For finishing an action: Subject +
stop+ Gerund (-ing). - 3For a new purpose: Subject +
stop+ Infinitive (to+ verb). - 4Notice how the tense of
stopcan change. You can sayI stopped,I am stopping, orI will stop. The gerund or infinitive stays the same regardless. It is a very reliable pattern for your daily English.
When To Use It
Use the gerund when you want to say an activity ended. Maybe you quit a bad habit like biting your nails. Or maybe you finished your homework for the night. For example, I stopped biting my nails means you do not do it anymore. Use the infinitive when you stop your current movement for a goal. Imagine you are driving and see a beautiful view. You stop to take a photo. The driving stopped so the photography could begin. It is perfect for explaining your motives to friends. Use it when ordering food or asking for directions too. I stopped to buy a coffee tells people your exact mission.
When Not To Use It
Do not use the infinitive if the action is truly over. If you say I stopped to smoke, you are actually starting! This is a common trap for many people. Also, avoid using both together in one phrase. I stopped to smoking is never correct in English. Be careful with verbs that do not take gerunds easily. However, stop is very flexible with most action verbs. Just remember the goal of your sentence. If the action is dead, use -ing. If the action is a new goal, use to.
Common Mistakes
One big mistake is using the wrong form for habits. I stopped to eat junk food sounds like a new diet plan! You probably meant you quit eating it. Another mistake is forgetting the to in the infinitive. I stopped buy milk sounds very broken and confusing. People also mix up the meaning in job interviews. Saying I stopped to work there means you paused your walk to enter. You should say I stopped working there to show you left. It is a small change with a massive impact. Don't worry, you will get the hang of it soon.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Other verbs like remember, forget, and try act similarly. They change meaning based on the -ing or to form. With remember, the -ing form looks back at a memory. The to form looks forward to a task. Stop is unique because it focuses on the physical halt. It is more about the 'now' than remember is. Think of stop as the most physical of these verbs. It describes your movement through the world and your day. It is a very high-frequency word in daily conversations.
Quick FAQ
Q. Is stop to more formal than stop -ing?
A. No, they just have completely different meanings.
Q. Can I use stop with a noun instead?
A. Yes, like I stopped the car, which is very common.
Q. Does stop -ing always mean forever?
A. Not always, it can just mean finishing a specific session.
Q. What if I stop for a person?
A. You stop to talk to them, using the purpose form.
Q. Is this rule the same in American English?
A. Yes, this rule is universal across all English dialects.
Reference Table
| Pattern | Meaning | Result | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stop + Gerund | Finish an activity | Action ends | I stopped running. |
| Stop + Infinitive | Reason for stopping | New action starts | I stopped to run. |
| Stop + Noun | Halt an object | Object stays still | Stop the bus! |
| Stop + From | Prevent something | Action never starts | Stop him from falling. |
| Stop + Habit | Quit permanently | Lifestyle change | I stopped smoking. |
| Stop + Break | Temporary pause | Short interruption | Stop to rest. |
The 'Why' Test
If you can replace 'to' with 'in order to', you definitely need the infinitive. For example: 'I stopped (in order to) buy bread'.
The Smoking Trap
Never tell a doctor 'I stopped to smoke' unless you just started a cigarette break. Use 'I stopped smoking' to say you quit!
Focus on the First Action
With the gerund, the 'stopping' and the 'action' happen to the same thing. With the infinitive, you stop one thing (usually walking/driving) to do another.
Polite Pauses
In English-speaking offices, people often say 'I'll stop to chat later' as a polite way to say they are busy now but want to talk soon.
Exemples
8I stopped eating chocolate to lose some weight.
Focus: eating
Dejé de comer chocolate para perder algo de peso.
The person no longer eats chocolate.
He stopped to eat chocolate during his hike.
Focus: to eat
Él se detuvo para comer chocolate durante su caminata.
He paused his hike because he wanted chocolate.
The engine stopped making that strange noise.
Focus: making
El motor dejó de hacer ese ruido extraño.
The noise has finally ended.
We stopped to check if the engine was okay.
Focus: to check
Nos detuvimos para comprobar si el motor estaba bien.
The purpose of the stop was the check-up.
The committee stopped to consider the new proposal.
Focus: to consider
El comité se detuvo a considerar la nueva propuesta.
They paused their meeting to focus on one item.
✗ I stopped to work at 5 PM. → ✓ I stopped working at 5 PM.
Focus: working
Dejé de trabajar a las 5 PM.
Use -ing when you finish your workday.
✗ He stopped talking to buy a drink. → ✓ He stopped to buy a drink.
Focus: to buy
Él se detuvo para comprar una bebida.
The purpose is buying the drink, not the talking.
You should stop to think before you make a choice.
Focus: to think
Deberías detenerte a pensar antes de tomar una decisión.
This is a common idiomatic expression for reflection.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form based on the context of quitting a habit.
I really need to stop ___ so much coffee in the evening.
You want to end the habit, so the gerund '-ing' is required.
Choose the correct form for a purposeful pause.
On our way to the beach, we stopped ___ some sunscreen.
The stop was made for the purpose of buying sunscreen.
Identify the correct form for finishing a task.
The students stopped ___ when the bell rang.
The activity of talking ended because of the bell.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Gerund vs Infinitive
Which one do I use?
Are you finishing an action?
Is it a habit or a task?
Real World Usage
Health
- • Stop snacking
- • Stop to exercise
Travel
- • Stop driving
- • Stop to refuel
Frequently Asked Questions
22 questionsStop -ing means the action ends. Stop to means you pause your current movement to start a new action.
Yes, this is correct. It means you were doing something else, like walking, and you paused so you could rest.
Usually, yes. It implies you quit the habit entirely, whereas stopped to smoke means you are taking a break to have a cigarette.
Because stop is one of a few verbs where the grammar choice completely changes the meaning of the sentence.
No, that is not a standard pattern for this rule. Stick to gerunds or infinitives.
You should say I stopped working. This shows the task is complete for now.
Yes, for example, I stopped my career to travel the world. The travel is the purpose of the stop.
Both are equally common in speech and writing. It just depends on what you want to say!
Most people will understand you from context. However, it might lead to a funny misunderstanding if you mix up quitting and starting!
Yes, but that is a different rule. Stop someone from doing something means to prevent them.
Yes, this means 'Pause what you are doing and look at me'. It is very natural.
Both are correct. Stop to talk means you start a conversation; stop talking means you become silent.
Quit only takes the gerund, like I quit smoking. It never takes the infinitive.
Cease can take both, but the meaning does not change as dramatically as it does with stop.
Yes, if you were driving and pulled over at a dealership to buy one. It shows your purpose.
Stop to listen means you pause to hear something. Stop listening means you are ignoring someone.
Just change stop. For example: I will stop to see you tomorrow or I will stop eating sugar next week.
Yes, I only stopped to help is a very common way to explain your actions.
Many languages use two different verbs for these meanings. In English, we use one verb and change the grammar.
It is a very common phrase. It means to pause and consider a situation carefully before acting.
Yes, I stopped at the store. This is followed by a noun, which is also very common.
Try writing two sentences for every hobby you have. One for when you finish it, and one for why you might pause it.
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