In a process for controlling an internal combustion engine (10) having at least one cylinder (Z1 to Z4) in which a combustion chamber (13) is formed, fuel is injected in at least two modes of operation. The process has the following steps: relative to an operating point determined by at least one operating variable (100), an operating mode quality value is calculated for each of at least two operating modes, an operating mode (OPMOD_SEL) is selected from the at least two operating modes depending on the operating mode quality values, and correcting variables are determined and set depending on the at least one operating variable (100) and the selected operating mode (OPMOD_SEL).