The invention provides a method for controlling an internal combustion engine (2) for controlling an internal combustion engine (2) comprising at least one first cylinder (201) and at least one second cylinder (202) with respective reciprocating pistons, an intake guide (305) arranged to guide air from a fresh air intake arrangement (303) to the first and second cylinders (201, 202), a fuel system (801, 802) arranged to inject fuel into the first and second cylinders (201, 202), a first exhaust guide (401) and a second exhaust guide (402) arranged to guide gases from the first and second cylinders (201, 202), respectively, towards an exhaust after treatment system (7), the method comprising—receiving (S1) in the first cylinder (201), from the intake guide (305), air from the fresh air intake arrangement (303) or gases including air from the fresh air intake arrangement (303), —expelling from the first cylinder (201), to the first exhaust guide (401), gases in the form of the air received in the first cylinder, or in the form of exhaust gases from combustions in the first cylinder, including a portion of the air received in the first cylinder (201), —controlling (S4) a first exhaust valve (411) located in the first exhaust guide (401) so as to reduce or inhibit the transport of the gases from the first cylinder (201) to the exhaust after treatment system (7) and simultaneously recirculating the gases from the first exhaust guide (401) to the intake guide (305) by means of an exhaust gas recirculating (EGR) passage (404), —receiving in the second cylinder (202), from the intake guide (305), at least a portion of the gases recirculated from the first exhaust guide (401) to the intake guide (305), —injecting (S5) fuel into the second cylinder (202) so as to provide repetitive combustions with air in the received gases, —expelling from the second cylinder (202), to the second exhaust guide (402), the exhaust gases produced by the combustions in the second cylinder (202), and—controlling a second exhaust valve (412) located in the second exhaust guide (402) so as to guide the exhaust gases expelled from the second cylinder through the second exhaust guide (402) towards the exhaust after treatment system (7).