keep 是英语中用法灵活的动词之一,下面笔者就其用法归纳如下：
一、用作系动词,意为“保持（某种状态）”,其后常接形容词作表语.如：
Please keep quiet / silent!请保持安静!
After the accident,he still kept alive.这次事故之后,他仍然活着.
二、用作实义动词,可表示：
1.保管；保存；保留.如：
Keep the change.零钱不用找了.
Please keep these things for me while I am away.在我离开期间,请你替我保管这些东西.
2.赡养；饲养.如：
Does he earn enough to keep himself and his family?他的收入够养活他自己和他的家人吗?
I used to keep sheep in my childhood.我在孩提时常常养羊.
3.经营.如：
Her father kept a grocer's shop for a number of years.她父亲开了几年杂货店.
4.坚持；继续.后面如接动词,要用 V-ing 形式作宾语.如：
If you keep (on) practising your spoken English,you'll soon make great progress.如果你坚持练习英语口语,你很快就会取得很大的进步.
5.阻止；阻碍.常用于 keep sb/sth from doing sth 结构中,其中介词 from 不能省略.如：
The heavy rain didn't keep them from watching the football match.大雨没能阻止他们观看足球赛.
6.保持.其后常接复合宾语,表示使（某人或某物）保持某种状态或使某一动作继续.
① keep + sb/sth + 介词.如：
If your hands are cold,keep them in your pockets.
如果你觉得手冷,就把它们放在口袋里.
② keep + sb/sth + 形容词.如：
These gloves will keep your hands warm.
这种手套保暖好.
③ keep +sb/sth + 副词.如：
The cold weather kept us indoors.
寒冷的天气使我们呆在家里.
④ keep + sb/sth + V-ing 形式,表示“让某人 / 某物一直……”,强调动作的持续性.如：
I'm sorry I've kept you waiting.
很抱歉,让你久等了.
⑤ keep + sb/sth + V-ed 形式,表示“让某人 / 某物一直被……”,宾语是 V-ed 形式,表示的动作的承受者.如：
She kept her eyes shut and stayed where she was.
她紧闭双眼,呆在原地未动.
7.构成的其它动词短语有：
keep a record （保持记录）,keep apart （把……分开）,keep back one's tears （忍住眼泪）,keep in touch (with) （保持与……的联系）,keep out (of) （把……关在外面）,keep up （保持；使……不能入睡）,keep one's / an eye on （照管,密切注视）,keep away (from) （离开；不接近；戒除）,keep in mind （牢记）,keep one's word （遵守诺言）,keep pace/step with （跟上……的步伐）,keep up with （与……同步；跟上）等.
