ICE with a cylinder which can be switched off and method to operate such an ICE

The invention relates to an internal combustion engine (13) with at least two cylinders (1, 2, 3, 4), wherein - each cylinder (1, 2, 3, 4) has at least one exhaust port, to which an exhaust line (7a, 7b) for discharging exhaust gases via an exhaust system (8) is connected, - each cylinder (1, 2, 3, 4) has at least one intake port, to which an intake line (5a, 5b) for supplying charge air via an intake system (6) is connected, and - at least two cylinders (1, 2, 3, 4) are configured in such a manner that they form at least two groups, each with at least one cylinder (1, 2, 3, 4), wherein the at least one cylinder (1, 4) of a first group is a cylinder (1, 4) that remains in operation even during partial shutdown of the internal combustion engine (13) and the at least one cylinder (2, 3) of a second group is designed as a load-dependently switchable cylinder (2, 3), wherein - in the at least one exhaust line (7b) of the at least one load-dependently switchable cylinder (2, 3) at least one first shut-off element (9) is provided, which releases the at least one exhaust line (7b) for discharging exhaust gases via the exhaust system (8) when the cylinder (2, 3) is switched on and blocks it during partial shutdown, and - in the at least one intake line (5b) of the at least one load-dependently switchable cylinder (2, 3) at least one second shut-off element (11) is provided, which releases the at least one intake line (5b) for supplying charge air via the intake system (6) when the cylinder (2, 3) is switched on and blocks it during partial shutdown.