Vocabulary
A2–B2
7 min read
Updated 13 June 2026
Quick answer: Remember = recall something on your own, from inside your own memory: I remembered her birthday. Remind = cause someone else (or yourself) to remember something, always involving an external prompt: She reminded me about the meeting. The key difference is direction — remember is internal; remind is external.
Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Core Meaning | Example |
|---|
| remember | verb | to recall something from your own memory, without external help | I finally remembered his name. |
| remind | verb | to cause another person (or yourself) to think of something; to jog someone’s memory | Can you remind me to call the doctor? |
When to Use Remember
Use remember when a person recalls something from their own memory — no external trigger is required. The subject is the one doing the recalling. Remember can be followed by a noun, a gerund (-ing), or an infinitive (to + verb).
- remember + noun: I remember that day clearly.
- remember + gerund (recalling a past event): I remember locking the door.
- remember + infinitive (recalling a future obligation): Remember to lock the door.
Do you remember where we parked the car?
She remembered to send the report before the deadline.
I remember meeting him at the conference last year.
He couldn’t remember the answer, no matter how hard he tried.
Please remember to bring your passport tomorrow.
When to Use Remind
Use remind when one person (or thing) prompts another person to think of something. The subject does the reminding; someone else does the remembering. Remind is always followed by an object (the person being reminded). Common patterns: remind someone about/of something or remind someone to do something.
- remind + object + to-infinitive: She reminded me to buy milk.
- remind + object + about/of + noun: He reminded us about the meeting.
- remind + object + that: Can you remind him that the deadline is Friday?
My alarm reminds me to take my medication every morning.
Can you remind Tom about the team dinner tonight?
She reminded her students to submit their essays by Friday.
This song reminds me of my childhood holidays.
Please remind him that the appointment is at two o’clock.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1 — Using “remind” when the subject recalls by themselves
✗ I reminded that I had a dentist appointment.
✓ I remembered that I had a dentist appointment.
Tip: No one prompted you — the memory came from inside, so use remember.
Mistake 2 — Using “remember” when an object is needed
✗ Can you remember me to call Sarah?
✓ Can you remind me to call Sarah?
Tip: You are asking someone to prompt you — an external trigger — so use remind + me.
Mistake 3 — Wrong preposition with “remind”
✗ She reminded me to the meeting.
✓ She reminded me about the meeting.
Tip: Use remind + object + about/of + noun, or remind + object + to + verb.
Memory Tip
Mnemonic — the “RE” trick:
Remember → the action is inside me (me is hiding in remember). You recall something yourself.
Remind → it minds someone else — it changes what is on another person’s mind. You need someone or something outside to do the reminding.
Another way: if you could replace the verb with “recall”, use remember. If you could replace it with “prompt” or “jog someone’s memory”, use remind.
Mini-Quiz: Fill in the Blank
Choose remember or remind for each sentence. Answers are shown below each item.
1. “Can you _____ me to pick up the dry cleaning on your way home?”
Answer: remind — You are asking another person to prompt you (external trigger).
2. “I can’t _____ where I put my keys!”
Answer: remember — You are trying to recall from your own memory.
3. “This smell _____ me of my grandmother’s kitchen.”
Answer: reminds — The smell (external thing) is prompting you to think of something.
4. “Did you _____ to turn off the oven before you left?”
Answer: remember — You recalled your own obligation. Remember + to-infinitive for future duties.
5. “Please _____ the students that the exam starts at nine, not ten.”
Answer: remind — A teacher is prompting students (remind + object + that-clause).
10 Example Sentences in Context
- I suddenly remembered that today was our wedding anniversary — just in time!
- My phone reminded me about the dentist appointment with a notification an hour before.
- Do you remember the name of that restaurant we went to in Lisbon?
- Could you remind James to send me those files before the end of the day?
- She remembered locking the front door, so she didn’t need to go back.
- He always reminds his children to say please and thank you.
- I can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed on holiday.
- This old photograph reminds me of happier times we shared together.
- Remember to charge your laptop before the presentation tomorrow morning.
- Her voice reminded everyone in the room of a famous singer from the 1990s.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between remember and remind?
Remember means to recall something from your own memory, without external help: "I remembered her birthday." Remind means to cause someone else to think of something — there is always an object (the person being reminded) and an external trigger: "She reminded me about her birthday." The key distinction is direction: remember is an internal action (you recall); remind is an external action (you prompt someone else).
Can "remind" be used without an object?
No. Remind always requires an object — the person whose memory is being jogged. You cannot say "She reminded about the meeting." You must say "She reminded me about the meeting" or "She reminded him about the meeting." The structure is always: remind + someone + about/of/to. If no object is needed, remember is the correct verb.
What is the difference between "remember to do" and "remember doing"?
This is an important distinction within remember itself. "Remember to do something" refers to a future obligation — you must not forget to do it: "Remember to post the letter." "Remember doing something" refers to a past event that you recall: "I remember posting the letter" (= I have a memory of posting it). Confusing these two can change the meaning significantly.
Can a thing "remind" you of something?
Yes. In English, both people and things can be the subject of remind. A smell, a song, a photograph, or any sensory experience can remind you of something: "This song reminds me of summer." "The smell of cinnamon reminds her of Christmas." The thing acts as an external trigger that causes the memory to surface. This is a very common and natural use of remind in everyday English.
Is "remind me" the same as "remember me"?
No — these have completely different meanings. "Remind me to call her" = cause me (externally) to remember to call her. "Remember me to her" is an older, formal expression meaning "pass on my greetings to her" — you would not often hear this in modern everyday English. In most everyday contexts, if you want someone to prompt you, say "remind me," not "remember me."
How do you use "remind of" vs "remind about"?
"Remind of" is used when a person or thing triggers a memory or comparison: "This place reminds me of Paris." "Remind about" is used when prompting someone of a specific upcoming event or task: "She reminded me about the meeting at three." Both are correct; the choice depends on whether you are making a comparison/memory connection (of) or flagging a specific item someone needs to act on (about).
Can "remember" be used to ask someone to pass on greetings?
Yes, but this is formal and somewhat old-fashioned. "Remember me to your parents" means "give my regards to your parents." In modern speech, people more commonly say "say hello to your parents from me" or "give my best to your parents." You may encounter "remember me to" in literature or formal correspondence, but it is rarely used in everyday conversation today.
What is the noun form of remember and remind?
Remember does not have a common direct noun form derived from it, but the related nouns are "memory" (the ability to remember, or a specific recollection) and "remembrance" (formal/poetic: the act of remembering). Remind produces the noun "reminder" — a person, message, or device that reminds you of something: "Set a reminder on your phone." "The email was a reminder about the deadline."
Why do ESL learners confuse remember and remind?
In many languages, a single verb covers both meanings. For example, in Spanish "recordar" can mean both to remember and to remind; in French "rappeler" covers both. Learners from those backgrounds translate directly and produce errors like "Can you remember me to call her?" The solution is to fix the English pattern in memory: remember = internal recall (no object needed); remind = external prompt (object always required).
Are there any collocations or fixed phrases with remember and remind?
Common collocations: remember clearly, remember vaguely, remember fondly, remember well; as far as I remember, if I remember correctly (= IIRC). With remind: send a reminder, set a reminder, a gentle reminder, a friendly reminder. Fixed phrases: "Remind me again" (please tell me once more); "That reminds me!" (I just thought of something relevant). "If memory serves me correctly" is another way to hedge a memory claim.