remind vs remember

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   A pair of verbs often confused: 'remind' means to make someone else think of something, while 'remember' means to keep or bring something back into your own mind.

   Grammar: Both are verbs, but only 'remind' needs a person as object: remind me; remember can stand alone: I remember.

   Patterns

   • remind someone of something
   • remind someone to do something
   • remember to do something
   • remember doing something

   Please remind me to call my mother tomorrow.

   I can't remember where I put my keys.

   This song reminds me of our holiday in Spain.

2. 2verbtransitive

   To make someone think of something or someone, often because of a similarity or connection.

   Grammar: Needs a person as object, often followed by 'of' or 'about': remind me of your name.

   Patterns

   • remind someone of something
   • remind someone about something

   That smell reminds me of my grandmother's kitchen.

   Could you remind me about the meeting tomorrow morning?

3. 3verbtransitive

   To help someone not forget to do something by telling them again.

   Grammar: Often followed by 'to' + infinitive: remind someone to lock the door.

   Patterns

   • remind someone to do something

   The teacher reminded us to hand in our homework on Friday.

   I reminded him to bring his passport.

4. 4verbtransitive or intransitive

   To keep information in your mind or bring it back into your mind.

   Grammar: Can be used without an object: I remember. With an object: remember the name.

   Patterns

   • remember something
   • remember doing something
   • remember to do something

   Do you remember his phone number?

   I remember meeting her at a conference years ago.

   Remember to turn off the lights before you leave.

Common combinations

remind someone of something

You remind me of my cousin.

remind someone to do something

She reminded me to water the plants.

remember to do something

Remember to lock the door.

remember doing something

I remember seeing that film when I was a child.

can't remember

I can't remember his name.

Synonyms and how they differ

recall

More formal than 'remember'; often used for bringing a fact back to mind deliberately.

recollect

Very formal; suggests making an effort to remember something from the past.

Opposites

Word family

reminder noun

A thing that makes you remember something, like a note or an alarm.

memory noun

The ability to remember, or something that you remember.

Commonly confused: remind vs remember or remind? remind vs remember or remember?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “remind vs remember”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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