Abstract: The invention provides a method for shutting down and restarting individual cylinders of a multicylinder internal combustion engine by deactivating the charge change valves and the fuel injection. According to the invention, in shutting down a selected cylinder, the exhaust valve is disconnected first in all cases. Thereafter, the intake valve and fuel injection for the selected cylinder are controlled such that the last fuel injection into that cylinder takes place immediately before the last intake cycle. When a cylinder is restarted, the exhaust valve is always operated first, and only thereafter is the intake valve opened, with the first fuel injection always taking place immediately before the first intake cycle.