Low idle spiting sputtering and dying

I am a chef not a mechanic but anyway I have a 1990 Mercury Topaz with a 4 cyclinder motor when the car is idling or a very low speeds the cars spits and sputters and very often dies also when I try to start it I have to pump the accelerator pedal to even get it started. I need my car to get back and foth to work can someone please help me out thank you very much in advance for you help in this matter.