Collocation Node: remind
Collocation Overview
Remind is a core causative cognitive verb denoting an external agent, stimulus, or prompt that causes someone to retrieve information, recognize a similarity, or execute an intended action. Unlike its cognitive counterpart remember (which designates autonomous internal retrieval), remind requires strict argument valency: it almost invariably demands a direct recipient or personal pronoun (remind + someone). Its colligational network branches into three primary syntactic complementation patterns: prospective obligations (remind someone to do), evocative resemblance or sensory association (remind someone of something), and factual/informational reassurance (remind someone that).
🗺️ Semantic Collocation Map
Zone 1: Task Prompting & Future Action (Prospective Obligations)
- The Concept: Operating as an external prompt or scheduled alarm to ensure that another person (or oneself) performs a required duty or action.
- Structure:
remind + Object (Person) + to + Base Verb - Key Collocations: remind me to call, remind staff to submit, set an alarm to remind, gently remind someone to, remind the team to lock.
- Context: Please remind me to email the quarterly figures to the finance director before 5 PM.
Zone 2: Evocative Triggers & Resemblance (Sensory & Associative Memory)
- The Concept: Causing spontaneous recollection or perceived physical/behavioral similarity through sensory cues, photographs, places, or personality traits.
- Structure:
remind + Object (Person) + of + Noun / Gerund (-ing) - Key Collocations: remind someone of home, remind me of my childhood, remind you of someone, bear a resemblance that reminds, strongly remind.
- Context: The scent of roasted chestnuts always reminds him of winter evenings in his hometown.
Zone 3: Information Retrieval & Re-stating Facts (Cognitive Awareness)
- The Concept: Re-articulating a previously known fact, contractual term, deadline, or reality to return it to active consciousness.
- Structure:
remind + Object (Person) + that / wh- clause - Key Collocations: remind someone that, remind listeners why, need I remind you that, remind the client that, constantly remind.
- Context: The chairperson reminded attendees that recording the session was strictly prohibited.
Zone 4: Pragmatic Modifiers, Register & Formularies (Adverbial Priming)
- The Concept: Calibrating the interpersonal tone, frequency, courtesy, or solemnity of an alert or commemorative lesson.
- Key Collocations: gently remind, politely remind, repeatedly remind, serve to remind, scarcely need reminding, constantly remind.
- Context: The historic monument serves to remind future generations of the sacrifices made during the conflict.
🧩 Key Lexical Chunks (Phrasal Verbs & Idioms)
Spoken & Written Formulaic Units
- need I remind you (that...): A rhetorical spoken formula used to firmly or sternly point out an undeniable reality or obligation that someone seems to have disregarded. ("Need I remind you that our budget has already been capped?")
- remind me again: A casual, conversational formula politely asking someone to repeat a fact, name, or instruction that has slipped one's mind. ("What was the code for the conference room, remind me again?")
- serve to remind: A formal written collocation indicating that an event, observation, or artifact acts as a salutary or sobering lesson. ("The sudden market correction serves to remind investors of the inherent volatility of equities.")
- a gentle reminder: A widely used professional and diplomatic formula in business communication to prompt action without appearing aggressive. ("Just a gentle reminder that open invoices are due by Friday close of business.")
🎴 Interactive Web Practice (10 Questions)
Practice 1: Please remind me ______ submit the revised manuscript by tomorrow afternoon.
Answer:
to Practice 2: That old acoustic ballad always reminds me ______ our road trip through the mountains.
Answer:
of Practice 3: The team leader reminded everyone ______ the project deadline had been moved up to Thursday.
Answer:
that Practice 4: You don't have to ______ me; I already know how important this contract is.
Answer:
remind Practice 5: Could you ______ me again what time the client presentation begins?
Answer:
remind Practice 6: The tragic accident should serve ______ remind all drivers of the dangers of speeding in wet conditions.
Answer:
to Practice 7: Need I ______ you that all proprietary source code remains strictly confidential?
Answer:
remind Practice 8: He sent out a ______ reminder to all staff regarding the scheduled office maintenance.
Answer:
gentle Practice 9: Your younger brother really reminds me ______ your father when he was that age.
Answer:
of Practice 10: The flight attendant had to politely remind the passengers ______ fasten their seatbelts.
Answer:
to 🔗 Network Connections
- ⚖️ Discrimination: remember-vs-remind — Internal recall vs. external prompting
- 🔑 Collocation Node: Remember — Autonomous cognitive retrieval
- 🧩 Chunk: keep-in-mind — Retaining awareness in active decision-making
- 📚 Grammar Guide: Grammar B2 - Infinitive vs Gerund — Valency and complementation patterns