Explanation at your level:
To remember means to keep a thought in your head. If you remember something, you do not forget it. For example, you remember your friend's name. You remember to bring your bag to school. It is a very useful word for your daily life.
When you remember, you think about something from the past. You can remember a place you visited or a person you met. You also use it for tasks. 'Please remember to buy milk' means you must not forget the milk. It is common to say 'I remember' when someone asks you a question about the past.
At this level, you start using remember with more complex structures. You can use it with a 'that' clause, like 'I remember that we had fun.' You can also use it with 'to + infinitive' for future tasks or 'verb-ing' for past memories. Understanding the difference between these two is key to sounding natural.
Remember is essential for discussing personal history and obligations. You will often hear it in phrases like 'I remember clearly' or 'If I remember rightly.' It is also used in formal contexts, such as 'The company remembers its founders.' Mastering the nuance between remembering an action vs. remembering a fact is a sign of B2 proficiency.
At the C1 level, remember is used in more abstract ways. We talk about 'remembering' a tragedy or a cultural event to honor it. You might also use it in passive constructions or complex literary descriptions. It conveys a sense of reflection, nostalgia, and intellectual retention that goes beyond simple recall.
Mastering remember at this level involves understanding its role in literature and philosophy. It is used to discuss 'collective memory' or the act of 'remembering' the dead. You will see it used in highly formal speeches or poetic prose to evoke deep emotional resonance. It is a word that carries the weight of history and personal identity.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Remember means to recall information.
- It is a common, neutral verb.
- Use 'to' for future, '-ing' for past.
- Never use 'of' after remember.
When you remember something, you are pulling a piece of information out of your brain's storage. It is like opening a file on your computer that you saved a long time ago.
You can remember facts, like your phone number, or memories, like your last birthday party. It is a fundamental human action that connects our present self to our past experiences.
The word remember comes from the Old French word remembrer, which traces back to the Latin rememorari. This Latin root literally means 'to call to mind again.'
It is fascinating that the word is built from re- (again) and memor (mindful). Essentially, remembering is the act of becoming mindful of something for a second time.
We use remember in many ways. You might 'remember to do' a task, which means you don't forget your duty. You might also 'remember doing' something, which means you have a clear mental image of a past action.
In casual conversation, we often use it to check if someone has information, like 'Do you remember where we parked?' It is a very versatile verb used in almost every social setting.
1. Remember me to someone: To send your greetings to them. Example: Please remember me to your parents.
2. If I remember correctly: Used when you are fairly sure of a fact. Example: If I remember correctly, the meeting is at noon.
3. As far as I can remember: Based on the best of your memory. Example: As far as I can remember, we met in 2010.
4. Remember the Alamo: A historical rallying cry. Example: The soldiers shouted 'Remember the Alamo!' before the charge.
5. For as long as I can remember: Since a very long time ago. Example: I have loved music for as long as I can remember.
The verb remember is regular, forming the past tense as remembered. It is often followed by an infinitive (remember to lock the door) or a gerund (remember locking the door).
Pronunciation varies slightly between US and UK English, but the stress is always on the second syllable: re-MEM-ber. It rhymes with words like ember, member, and December.
Fun Fact
The word contains the root 'memor', which is also the root for 'memory' and 'memorial'.
Pronunciation Guide
The 'r' at the end is silent or very soft.
The 'r' at the end is pronounced clearly.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the first 'e' as 'ee'
- Missing the middle 'm'
- Adding an extra syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very easy to read
Very easy to write
Very easy to say
Very easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Gerunds vs Infinitives
Remember to go vs Remember going
Stative Verbs
I remember (not I am remembering)
Imperative Mood
Remember this!
Examples by Level
I remember your name.
recall
simple present
Remember to eat.
don't forget
imperative
I remember the park.
recall
noun object
Do you remember me?
recognize
question form
I cannot remember.
forget
modal verb
Remember this day.
keep in mind
imperative
She remembers school.
recall
third person
We remember you.
think of
pronoun object
I remember my first bike.
Please remember to call me.
Do you remember the movie?
I remember walking here.
She remembers the lesson.
We remember the cold winter.
Remember to lock the door.
I remember everything.
I remember that we were late.
Do you remember where we met?
I remember seeing him before.
Remember to bring your ID.
I remember the smell of rain.
She remembers how to swim.
He remembers the exact date.
I remember being very happy.
I remember him as a kind man.
I remember having done this task.
He remembers it like yesterday.
Remember to keep your cool.
I remember the event vividly.
Do you remember the instructions?
I remember how hard we worked.
She remembers the song lyrics.
The nation remembers its heroes.
I remember the subtle details.
He remembers the era fondly.
She remembers the bitter truth.
I remember the scent of pine.
We remember the lessons learned.
Do you remember the context?
I remember it with nostalgia.
The city remembers the tragedy.
He remembers the ancient lore.
She remembers the unspoken vow.
I remember the fleeting moment.
They remember the great shift.
One remembers the lost days.
I remember the profound silence.
He remembers the complex theory.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"remember me to someone"
send my regards
Remember me to your sister.
neutral"if I remember correctly"
to the best of my knowledge
If I remember correctly, it's today.
neutral"for as long as I can remember"
for a very long time
I've lived here for as long as I can remember.
neutral"remember the Alamo"
a call to remember a struggle
The history books say 'Remember the Alamo'.
historical"as far as I can remember"
to the best of my knowledge
As far as I can remember, he was there.
neutral"remember the good old days"
nostalgia for the past
We like to remember the good old days.
casualEasily Confused
Both relate to memory
Remind is for others; remember is for self
Remind me to remember.
Both mean to remember
Recall is more formal
I recall the event.
Both involve memory
Memorize is to learn by heart
I must memorize this.
Direct antonym
Forget is the loss of memory
Don't forget!
Sentence Patterns
Subject + remember + object
I remember the day.
Subject + remember + to + verb
Remember to call me.
Subject + remember + verb-ing
I remember seeing him.
Subject + remember + that + clause
I remember that he was there.
Subject + remember + question word
I remember where we went.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
If you mean a past memory, use the gerund (-ing).
Remember is a transitive verb; no preposition needed.
Use 'remind' when helping someone else remember.
The gerund is more natural for past actions.
Do not add 'to' after remember.
Tips
Memory Palace
Place memories in a virtual room.
Native Speakers
They use 'remember' to check facts.
Etiquette
Remembering names is polite.
Shortcut
Remember to = future, Remember -ing = past.
Stress
Stress the second syllable.
Avoid 'of'
Never say 'remember of'.
Did You Know?
It comes from the Latin for 'mindful'.
Flashcards
Use sentences, not just words.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Re-member: Put your brain members back together.
Visual Association
A string tied around a finger.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to remember everything you ate yesterday.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: to call to mind again
Cultural Context
None, though 'remembering the dead' is a sensitive topic.
Remembering is a key part of social etiquette (e.g., remembering birthdays).
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- Remember the deadline
- Remember to send the email
- Do you remember the plan?
At school
- Remember the lesson
- Remember to study
- I remember the answer
Travel
- Remember your passport
- I remember this place
- Remember to pack
Daily Life
- Remember to buy milk
- I remember your birthday
- Remember to lock up
Conversation Starters
"What is the first thing you remember?"
"Do you remember your first day of school?"
"How do you remember important dates?"
"Do you remember the names of all your teachers?"
"What is the most memorable trip you have taken?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a childhood memory.
Describe a time you forgot something important.
What is a memory you want to keep forever?
How does it feel to remember a lost friend?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, you remember something yourself; you remind someone else.
No, that is incorrect. Just say 'I remember it'.
'To' is for future tasks, '-ing' is for past memories.
Yes, it usually describes a state of mind.
re-MEM-ber.
It is neutral and used in all settings.
Rarely, as it is a stative verb.
Remembrance.
Test Yourself
I ___ my teacher's name.
Remember fits the context of knowing a name.
Which means to not forget?
Remember is the antonym of forget.
Remembering to do something means you already did it.
It means you have a duty to do it in the future.
Word
Meaning
Matching synonyms and antonyms.
Correct structure is Subject + Verb + to + infinitive.
Score: /5
Summary
To remember is to bridge the gap between your past experiences and your present mind.
- Remember means to recall information.
- It is a common, neutral verb.
- Use 'to' for future, '-ing' for past.
- Never use 'of' after remember.
Memory Palace
Place memories in a virtual room.
Native Speakers
They use 'remember' to check facts.
Etiquette
Remembering names is polite.
Shortcut
Remember to = future, Remember -ing = past.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
More general words
about
A1On the subject of; concerning something.
above
A2In a higher place than something or someone.
accident
A2An unfortunate event causing damage or injury.
action
A2The process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim.
after
A2Following in time or place; later than.
afterward
A2At a later or subsequent time.
again
A2Another time; once more.
aged
B1Of a specified age.
alive
A2Living, not dead.
all
A2The whole quantity or extent of something; every single one.
