keep on
HighInformal to neutral. More common in spoken and informal written English than in formal writing.
Definition
Meaning
To continue doing something; to persist or persevere with an action or behavior.
It can also imply maintaining a state, continuing to employ someone, or repeatedly doing something that might be annoying or persistent.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This phrasal verb is often followed by a present participle (verb-ing) or a direct object (when meaning 'to continue to employ'). It can carry a nuance of persistence despite difficulty or annoyance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic difference. 'Keep on' is used in both varieties. Slight stylistic preference in UK English for 'carry on' as an alternative in some contexts.
Connotations
Equally informal/conversational in both varieties. The imperative 'Keep on!' as encouragement is common in both.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJ] keep on [VERB-ING] (e.g., He kept on talking.)[SUBJ] keep [OBJ] on (e.g., They kept him on after the merger.)[SUBJ] keep on at [OBJ] (e.g., She kept on at me about the deadline.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Keep on keeping on.”
- “Keep on truckin'.”
- “Keep on the sunny side.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"We'll keep you on the payroll during the review period." (continue employment)
Academic
Less common in formal academic prose; 'persist' or 'continue' is preferred. May appear in reported speech or informal commentary.
Everyday
"Just keep on practising, you'll get better." (encouragement)
Technical
Rare in technical manuals; 'maintain' or 'continue operation' is used instead.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- If you keep on driving north, you'll reach Edinburgh.
- The manager decided to keep him on despite the cuts.
American English
- Keep on walking until you see the gas station.
- They kept the consultant on for another month.
adverb
British English
- N/A for 'keep on' as an adverb.
American English
- N/A for 'keep on' as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A for 'keep on' as an adjective.
American English
- N/A for 'keep on' as an adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Keep on trying! You can do it.
- The baby kept on crying.
- She kept on asking questions until she understood.
- Despite the rain, we kept on walking.
- The company promised to keep all staff on until the end of the project.
- He just keeps on at me about cleaning my room—it's so annoying!
- Historical injustices keep on reverberating through contemporary society.
- The researcher kept on refining her methodology despite initial setbacks.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a car's ON button that you have to KEEP pressing to stay moving. KEEP + ON = continue the 'on' state.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTINUITY IS MOTION FORWARD (e.g., 'keep on going', 'keep on moving'). PERSISTENCE IS MAINTAINING PRESSURE (e.g., 'keep on at someone').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'держать на' (nonsensical). Use 'продолжать' + infinitive or 'продолжать' + деепричастие.
- The 'on' does not imply spatial location. It's a particle indicating continuation.
- For 'keep someone on' (employ), use 'оставлять на работе'.
Common Mistakes
- *I kept on to study. (Incorrect) -> I kept on studying. (Correct, must be followed by -ing form)
- Confusing 'keep on' with 'keep up with' (to maintain pace).
- Using it in overly formal writing where 'continue' is more appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'keep on' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Keep on' is more informal and often implies persistence despite an obstacle or annoyance. 'Continue' is neutral and formal.
No, it cannot. 'Keep on' must be followed by a gerund (verb-ing). E.g., 'keep on working' (correct), not 'keep on to work' (incorrect).
It means to continue to employ someone, often when others are being let go. E.g., 'After the takeover, they kept on only the senior managers.'
It depends on the meaning. 1. 'Keep on' (continue) is inseparable: 'He kept on running.' 2. 'Keep [someone] on' (continue employment) is separable: 'They kept the assistant on.' / 'They kept on the assistant.'