Keeping things and continuing actions

The idea

Use keep with an object to retain it, or with an -ing form to continue an action. The past is kept.

Examples

• Please keep this ticket.
• She keeps the keys in a box.
• We kept the old map.
• He keeps practising after class.
• The children kept playing in the rain.
• I will keep reading tonight.

Watch out

After keep for a continuing action, use -ing, not an infinitive: keep reading.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct answer. Yesterday we ___ the ticket. (kept / keep)

   Show answer or example answer

   kept

   kept is the past form for the ticket saved yesterday.

2. Choose the correct answer. Please keep ___ to the bridge. (walking / walk)

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   walking

   walking names the action that continues.

3. Choose the correct answer. The child ___ the drawing. (keeps / keep)

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   keeps

   keeps agrees with the singular subject.

Use it today

Name something you keep and an activity you keep doing.