NOVELTY - The method for operating an internal combustion engine (10), comprises conducting an exhaust gas by an exhaust gas catalytic converter (26), and temporarily influencing a ratio of two chemical components and the ratio of the nonmethane hydrocarbons and methane present in the exhaust gas guiding to the catalytic converter in such a way that either one or the other component is predominantly present in the exhaust gas of the two components. The catalytic converter of the component present in the exhaust gas of the two components is converted at a temperature in a range above or below.    USE - The method is useful for operating an internal combustion engine.    ADVANTAGE - The method is capable of simply and effectively operating the internal combustion engine.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The method for operating an internal combustion engine (10), comprises conducting an exhaust gas by an exhaust gas catalytic converter (26), and temporarily influencing a ratio of two chemical components and the ratio of the nonmethane hydrocarbons and methane present in the exhaust gas guiding to the catalytic converter in such a way that either one or the other component is predominantly present in the exhaust gas of the two components. The catalytic converter of the component present in the exhaust gas of the two components is converted at a temperature in a range above or below of an ignition temperature of the waste gas catalyst higher than the other two components. The ratio is continuously influenced by a corresponding interpretation of the internal combustion engine, such as compression ratio, an injector type, and/or a nozzle geometry including a variable nozzle geometry, and is influenced during certain operating phases of the internal combustion engine with low load and/or an exhaust gas temperature below a threshold value, where the ratio is influenced by: switching on and switching off or adjusting of an exhaust gas recirculation (30, 34), and an inner exhaust gas recirculation; changing an operating mode of the exhaust gas recirculation; changing an injection time, an injection duration, and an injection pressure; switching on or switching off of a post-injection, and pre-injection; and changing an air supply (20, 22) of the internal combustion engine; and/or changing the nozzle geometry. A relatively high ratio of the carbon monoxide is present during influencing, the exhaust gas catalytic converter has a carbon monoxide-absorber material and/or the exhaust gas catalytic converter has same amount of palladium or palladium as platinum, and a mass ratio of the platinum to the palladium is 1:1-1:2. The relatively high ratio of the tetrahydrocannabinol is present, the exhaust gas catalytic converter has a tetrahydrocannabinol-absorbing material and/or the exhaust gas catalytic converter is based on the mass in the same platinum or the platinum as palladium. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) an internal combustion engine; and    (2) a control device and/or regulating device.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic view of an internal combustion engine.    Internal combustion engine (10)    Air supply (20, 22)    Exhaust gas catalytic converter (26)    Exhaust gas recirculation (30, 34)    Computer programme. (42)