English Mechanism

구동사 시리즈 #11 – KEEP

slowblooms 2025. 11. 4. 07:17

📘 Phrasal Verb Series #11 – KEEP

🌿 Thinking in English: The Language of Continuity

“To keep is not to cling —
it is to care, to continue, and to remember.” 🌱

In English, “keep” means more than just ‘to hold’.
It’s about consistency, protection, and persistence
the quiet strength that sustains.


💫 1️⃣ keep on

To keep on means to continue doing something.

Examples

  • She kept on talking even after the bell rang. 🗣️
  • Keep on believing — you’re almost there. 🌿

👉 Feel it: “keep on” = steady motion — small steps that never stop.


🌱 2️⃣ keep up (with)

To keep up means to maintain speed or progress; not to fall behind.

Examples

  • I can’t keep up with all these messages. 📱
  • She’s working hard to keep up her grades.

👉 Feel it: “keep up” = alignment — matching the rhythm of life.


🌿 3️⃣ keep in

To keep in means to restrain or not release something.

Examples

  • He tried to keep in his anger. 😤
  • The teacher kept the students in after class.

👉 Feel it: “keep in” = containment — emotion under control or energy held back.


🌸 4️⃣ keep out

To keep out means to prevent entry.

Examples

  • Please keep out of the lab. ⚠️
  • The fence keeps out wild animals. 🐾

👉 Feel it: “keep out” = creating safe boundaries — for protection, not rejection.


💫 5️⃣ keep away (from)

To keep away means to stay distant for safety or discipline.

Examples

  • Keep away from the fire. 🔥
  • I’m trying to keep away from negative thoughts. 🌿

👉 Feel it: “keep away” = guarding your peace — healthy distance, not avoidance.


🌾 6️⃣ keep at

To keep at means to persist despite difficulty.

Examples

  • Keep at your studies — you’re improving. 📘
  • She kept at the piano until she mastered it. 🎹

👉 Feel it: “keep at” = steady persistence — focus that shapes progress.


🌊 7️⃣ keep to

To keep to means to follow or stick to something (a plan, rule, path).

Examples

  • Let’s keep to the schedule. ⏰
  • He always keeps to his promises. 🤝

👉 Feel it: “keep to” = integrity — staying true to your word or route.


🌻 8️⃣ keep from

To keep from means to prevent or hold oneself back.

Examples

  • I couldn’t keep from laughing. 😂
  • She tried to keep him from leaving.

👉 Feel it: “keep from” = gentle restraint — the effort to hold emotion or action.


🌼 9️⃣ keep up with

To keep up with means to maintain connection or awareness.

Examples

  • It’s hard to keep up with technology. 💻
  • I try to keep up with my old friends. 👭

👉 Feel it: “keep up with” = continuity of relationship or knowledge.


🌷 10️⃣ keep going

To keep going means to continue despite fatigue or difficulty.

Examples

  • When life gets hard, keep going. 💫
  • You’re stronger than you think — keep going. 🌿

👉 Feel it: “keep going” = inner resilience — motion from the heart, not the world.


🌿 Essence of KEEP

  의미의 흐름                         구동사 예시                                                                                 감각적 키워드

 

Persistence keep on / keep going / keep at 지속, 인내
Protection keep in / keep out / keep away 경계, 보존
Integrity keep to / keep up with 성실, 일관성
Restraint keep from 절제, 자제

🌸 Closing Thought

“To keep is to hold gently —
not by force, but by faith.” 🌿

To “keep” is to respect time,
to believe that what matters will remain —
because consistency itself is a form of love. 💫

 

 

 

 


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