An internal combustion engine includes at least one inlet valve whose operation can be described at least by the parameters: opening angle, closing angle, valve stroke curve (H1, H2) and phase position (pn) of the valve stroke curves (H1, H2). At least one of the parameters (pn) can be continuously shifted and at least one other parameter (H1, H2) can be switched stepwise. In order to avoid jumps of the torque generated by the engine when switching over, it is suggested that, in advance of a switchover (74) of the step-wise switchable parameter (H1, H2), the continuously shiftable parameter (pn) is so adjusted (72) that, with the switchover (74) of the stepwise switchable parameter (H1, H2), at least one condition variable (rl) of the combustion of a combustion chamber assigned to the inlet valve is not changed or not significantly changed.