I just remembered how to do it. (I still remember it)

[Marika33]

Can the verb "to remember" be used in the meaning "to start remembering"?

For instance:

• I just remembered how to do it. (I still remember it)

 

[jutfrank]

I don't fully understand your question but I think you're asking something about the very tricky semantics of the verb 'remember'.

The verb is frequently classed as a (mental) state verb. However, in my view it is very often better understood as an active verb, meaning 'actively recall information from memory'. In this sense, when you finally remember something that has been on the tip of your tongue, for instance, you're performing a mental action. I think this is the sense that you intend in your example. The knowledge of how to do it is not in your mind, then you actively recall that knowledge, and then the knowledge of how to do it is in your mind.

Does that answer your question?

 

[Marika33]

Does that answer your question?

Kind of. It's always seemed very strange to me that the verb "to remember' is called 'a state verb'.
So, I wonder if you can use that in the active way, as I did in my sentence.

• I just remembered how to do it.

Is this a correct sentence to say if you still remember how to do it?
In the sentence "I just remembered" actually means "I just started remembering", as with the verb "to hide":

• She was looking for me, but I didn't want to meet her, so I hid here. (I'm still here hiding from her - I've been hiding here for forty minutes now)

 

[jutfrank]

So, I wonder if you can use that in the active way, as I did in my sentence.

• I just remembered how to do it.

Is this a correct sentence to say if you still remember how to do it?

Yes.

In the sentence "I just remembered" actually means "I just started remembering"

No. The act of remembering is not a process there, it's an instant action.

, as with the verb "to hide":

• She was looking for me, but I didn't want to meet her, so I hid here. (I'm still here hiding from her - I've been hiding here for forty minutes now)

No, this sentence doesn't mean that you're still hiding now, although that may well be the case.