Cool MateDon't go vs Remain vs Stay vs Stop
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Don't go
Top 1,000 (very common)
Remain
Top 1,000 (very common)B1
Stay
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Stop
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
| Don't go | Remain | Stay | Stop | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dəʊnt ɡəʊ//🇺🇸 //doʊnt ɡoʊ// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈmeɪn/","/rɪˈmeɪnz/","/rɪˈmeɪnd/","/rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈmeɪn/","/rɪˈmeɪnz/","/rɪˈmeɪnd/","/rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/steɪ/","/steɪz/","/steɪd/","/ˈsteɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/steɪ/","/steɪz/","/steɪd/","/ˈsteɪɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/stɒp/","/stɒps/","/stɒpt/","/ˈstɒpɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/stɑːp/","/stɑːps/","/stɑːpt/","/ˈstɑːpɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Do not leave. | To stay in the same place or condition. | to remain in a place or not leave | To not continue moving or doing something. |
| Example | Don't go without saying goodbye! | Please remain silent during the presentation. | Please stay here until I return. | Please stop talking during the movie. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 | A1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | ||
| Collocations | Don't go away, Don't go too far, Don't go just yet | remain calm, remain silent, remain in place, remain unchanged, remain focused | behind, on, on, allow somebody to, can, manage to, at, in, on, a place to stay, a reason to stay, stay and chat, help, etc., behind, on, on, allow somebody to, can, manage to, at, in, on, a place to stay, a reason to stay, stay and chat, help, etc. | abruptly, dead, immediately, can, try to, be going to, from, know how to stop, know when to stop, abruptly, dead, immediately, can, try to, be going to, from, know how to stop, know when to stop, abruptly, dead, immediately, can, try to, be going to, from, know how to stop, know when to stop, abruptly, dead, immediately, can, try to, be going to, from, know how to stop, know when to stop |
| Antonyms | - | leave, depart, exit | leave, depart, go | go, continue, proceed |
| Common mistakes | Adding 'to' (e.g., 'Don't go to') when it is not needed., Confusing with 'Don't leave' - both are similar but can have different contexts., Using it in formal situations where a softer tone is needed. | Confused with 'stay' - 'remain' feels slightly more formal., Used incorrectly in passive constructions., Misplaced in sentences where a continuous tense is needed. | Using 'stay' with an object when it should be intransitive (e.g., saying 'stay the book' instead of 'stay at home'), Mixing up 'stay' with 'wait' when referring to time spent, Confusing 'stay' with 'remain' in contexts where only one fits. | 'Stop' is sometimes used incorrectly as an adjective (e.g., 'a stop sign')., Confusing 'stop' with 'stopping' when referring to future actions., Using 'stop' in the past tense without 'ed' for things that have already finished. |
| Usage notes | Used to advise or warn someone against leaving a place. Common in both spoken and written English, but can be considered informal depending on context. | Use 'remain' in both written and spoken English. It's suitable for formal contexts, like reports or discussions, but also works in everyday conversation. Avoid using it in casual slang as it sounds too formal. | Use 'stay' when you want to express remaining somewhere, often temporary. It's versatile for casual and formal contexts. Avoid using it in highly formal writing. | Use 'stop' when you want someone to cease an action. It's common in everyday conversation, but it's less formal than 'cease.' Avoid using it in very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Don't go vs Remain vs Stay vs Stop
What's the difference between Don't go, Remain, Stay, and Stop?
Don't go: Do not leave. Remain: To stay in the same place or condition. Stay: to remain in a place or not leave Stop: To not continue moving or doing something.
Which is more advanced: Don't go, Remain, Stay, and Stop?
Remain is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Don't go: Don't go without saying goodbye! Remain: Please remain silent during the presentation. Stay: Please stay here until I return. Stop: Please stop talking during the movie.
Can I use Don't go, Remain, Stay, and Stop interchangeably?
Not always. Don't go, Remain, Stay, and Stop are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.