ESL Blogs

Stop + -ing form or stop to-infinitive. How we have to use that verb?

Using the verb "stop" in the form stop + -ing (gerund) or stop to-infinitive, both of the verbs "stop" takes on a different meaning. 

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Using "stop" + -ing form (gerund), means that action ends and will not continue. There is no causal relationship between the two verbs.

Examples:
I had been smoking for many years when I stopped smoking last year. I am now a non-smoker.

She betrayed me. That's why I stopped meeting her. I don't see her anymore.

Could you stop feeding the dogs with sweets? It's not good for the dogs' health.

A couple of friends of mine stopped eating meat. Now, they are vegetarians.

Since the streets are too crowded with traffic, I stopped cycling. I take the bus to go to work because it's safer.

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"Stop" + infinitive means to interrupt activity, to do something else.
The infinitive is used to express the purpose of stopping (interrupting).

Examples:
I work for nine hours every day, but I stop to have lunch at noon.

It's difficult to focus on what you are doing if you have to stop to take a call every five minutes.

In the morning, we went for a stroll around the park. Sometimes, we stopped to look at the wildflowers which grow there.

After four hours of climbing, I stopped to take a break for some minutes. Then, I continued climbing.