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What is the difference between ' I stopped smoking ' and ' I stopped to smoke ' ?
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"I stopped smoking" means that you were smoking, but for some reason you stopped it. For example, "I stopped smoking when my mom entered my room."
Where as, "I stopped to smoke" means that you were going somewhere and stopped, so that you could smoke. For example, "I stopped to smoke on my way back home."
Where as, "I stopped to smoke" means that you were going somewhere and stopped, so that you could smoke. For example, "I stopped to smoke on my way back home."
"I stopped smoking" usually means that I was a smoker, and stopped smoking at all -i.e. I stopped being a smoker. If it was in reference to a specific time or incident, it could also mean that I was smoking, and put the cigarette/pipe/joint/... out.
"I stopped for a smoke" means that I stopped doing whatever else I was doing, and lit a smoke.
As a non-smoker, I was surprised how dirty it made me feel to write that!
"I stopped for a smoke" means that I stopped doing whatever else I was doing, and lit a smoke.
As a non-smoker, I was surprised how dirty it made me feel to write that!
I love ice cream. Really love it. But it has too much fat. So I stopped EATING ice cream five years ago. (I have not eaten any ice cream for five years.)
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I love a cup of hot cocoa. Yesterday I was working. I became tired. So I stopped TO DRINK a cup of hot cocoa and then I returned to my work.
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Stopped + gerund = I no longer do something. (I have stopped WALKING on that street because there are lots of bad people there.)
Stopped + infinitive = I stopped what I was doing. I then did something different. Then I continued with what I was doing. (The family was driving to Las Vegas from Los Angeles. They stopped TO EAT in a small town, and then they continued driving to Las Vegas.)
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I love a cup of hot cocoa. Yesterday I was working. I became tired. So I stopped TO DRINK a cup of hot cocoa and then I returned to my work.
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Stopped + gerund = I no longer do something. (I have stopped WALKING on that street because there are lots of bad people there.)
Stopped + infinitive = I stopped what I was doing. I then did something different. Then I continued with what I was doing. (The family was driving to Las Vegas from Los Angeles. They stopped TO EAT in a small town, and then they continued driving to Las Vegas.)
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