Understanding the English Phrasal Verb: Keep on
Welcome to your guide on mastering a common yet crucial English phrasal verb: keep on. If you're looking to enhance your fluency and understanding of everyday English, learning how phrasal verbs like keep on are used is essential. This phrasal verb is frequently used by native speakers, and understanding its various meanings and structures will significantly boost your conversational skills and comprehension. This post will explore the different meanings of keep on, how to structure sentences using it, discover related phrases and synonyms, and test your knowledge. Get ready to keep on learning!
Table of Contents
What Does Keep on Mean?
The phrasal verb keep on generally means to continue doing something or to persist in an action or behavior. It often implies perseverance, sometimes in the face of difficulty, or it can describe an action that is repeated. Understanding keep on is vital for learners aiming for natural-sounding English.
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Structure with Keep on
The versatility of keep on allows it to be used in several contexts, each with a slightly different nuance and grammatical structure. Understanding these structures is key to using this phrasal verb correctly and effectively in your own sentences. Let's delve into the main meanings and their typical sentence constructions.
Meaning 1: To Continue an Action (Persevere)
This is the most common meaning of keep on. It signifies the continuation of an activity, often implying determination or that the action is repeated over time. When you keep on doing something, you don't stop.
- Structure: Subject + keep on + verb-ing (gerund) + (optional additional information)
- Example 1: She kept on studying even when she felt tired, because she wanted to pass the exam.
- Example 2: If you keep on practicing your English every day, you will see great improvement.
This structure emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action. It's a positive exhortation in many cases, encouraging someone not to give up. For instance, a teacher might tell a student, "Don't be discouraged by mistakes; just keep on trying!"
Meaning 2: To Continue Talking (Often Annoyingly or Persistently)
Keep on can also mean to talk continuously about a particular subject, often to an extent that might be considered excessive or annoying by the listener. It implies a persistent focus on a topic in conversation.
- Structure: Subject + keep on + about + noun/pronoun/gerund + (optional additional information)
- Example 1: He kept on about his new car for hours; I wished he would talk about something else.
- Example 2: My friend keeps on about moving to the countryside, but I don't think she'll ever do it.
In this context, while keep on still means to continue, there's often an added layer of slight irritation or weariness from the perspective of the person describing the action. It highlights the repetitive and sometimes unwelcome nature of the speech. It's important to use keep on in this way carefully, as it can imply criticism.
Meaning 3: To Continue Employing Someone
Another specific meaning of keep on is to continue to employ someone, especially after a trial period or when there might have been a reason to terminate their employment. This usage is common in workplace contexts.
- Structure: Subject + keep + object (person) + on + (optional additional information)
- Example 1: Despite the budget cuts, the company decided to keep all its experienced staff on.
- Example 2: Sarah performed so well during her internship that they kept her on as a full-time employee.
Notice the structure here: the object (the person being employed) comes between "keep" and "on". This separable nature is common for many phrasal verbs when an object is involved. Understanding this helps in correctly forming sentences related to employment and retention. Learning English phrasal verbs like keep on helps you understand these specific contextual meanings.
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Related Phrases and Synonyms
Understanding synonyms and related phrases can greatly expand your vocabulary and help you express nuances more precisely. While keep on is a versatile phrasal verb, knowing alternatives allows for richer communication. Here are some synonyms related to the primary meanings of keep on:
| Synonym | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Continue | To not stop doing something; to carry on with an activity or process. | She decided to continue working despite the noise. |
| Persist | To continue doing something firmly or obstinately despite difficulty or opposition. | He persisted in his efforts to learn the language. |
| Carry on | Similar to 'continue', often used informally to mean proceed with an action. | Please carry on with your presentation. |
| Proceed | To begin or continue a course of action, often in a more formal context. | After the interruption, the speaker proceeded with her talk. |
| Maintain | To cause or enable (a condition or state of affairs) to continue. | They managed to maintain a high level of quality. |
These synonyms, while similar, can have slightly different connotations. For example, persist often implies overcoming obstacles, whereas continue is more general. Choosing the right word depends on the specific context and the shade of meaning you wish to convey. Expanding your vocabulary with these alternatives will make your English sound more sophisticated.
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Practice Time!
Let's test your understanding of keep on with a few questions. Choose the best option for each sentence.
Question 1: Which sentence uses "keep on" to mean 'continue an action'? a) The manager decided to keep him on after the probation period.
b) She will keep on practicing the piano until she perfects the piece.
c) He kept on about his problems all evening.
d) Please keep the lights on when you leave.
Correct answer: b
Question 2: "Despite the team losing several games, the fans ________ supporting them." Which phrase best fits the blank? a) kept on
b) kept about
c) kept by
d) kept from
Correct answer: a
Question 3: In the sentence, "My colleague keeps on about how busy she is," what does "keeps on about" imply? a) She is efficiently managing her tasks.
b) She is briefly mentioning her workload.
c) She is continuously and perhaps annoyingly talking about her workload.
d) She is asking for help with her workload.
Correct answer: c
Question 4: Which of the following is the correct structure for 'continue employing someone' using "keep on"? a) Subject + keep on + person
b) Subject + keep + on + person
c) Subject + keep + person + on
d) Subject + person + keep on
Correct answer: c
Reviewing your answers and understanding why the correct options are right will help solidify your grasp of keep on. Don't hesitate to revisit the explanations if any question seems tricky!
Conclusion
Understanding and correctly using the phrasal verb keep on is a valuable step in your English learning journey. As we've seen, it has several important meanings – from persevering in an action to continuing employment, and even to talking persistently. Recognizing its different structures and contexts will undoubtedly improve your fluency and make your English sound more natural. Remember, the key to mastering phrasal verbs like keep on is consistent practice, so keep on learning and using them!