一、用作系動詞,意為“保持（某種狀態(tài)）”,其后常接形容詞作表語.如：
Please keep quiet / silent!請保持安靜!
After the accident,he still kept alive.這次事故之后,他仍然活著.
二、用作實義動詞,可表示：
1.保管；保存；保留.如：
Keep the change.零錢不用找了.
Please keep these things for me while I am away.在我離開期間,請你替我保管這些東西.
2.贍養(yǎng)；飼養(yǎng).如：
Does he earn enough to keep himself and his family?他的收入夠養(yǎng)活他自己和他的家人嗎?
I used to keep sheep in my childhood.我在孩提時常常養(yǎng)羊.
3.經(jīng)營.如：
Her father kept a grocer's shop for a number of years.她父親開了幾年雜貨店.
4.堅持；繼續(xù).后面如接動詞,要用 V-ing 形式作賓語.如：
If you keep (on) practising your spoken English,you'll soon make great progress.如果你堅持練習英語口語,你很快就會取得很大的進步.
5.阻止；阻礙.常用于 keep sb/sth from doing sth 結(jié)構(gòu)中,其中介詞 from 不能省略.如：
The heavy rain didn't keep them from watching the football match.大雨沒能阻止他們觀看足球賽.
6.保持.其后常接復合賓語,表示使（某人或某物）保持某種狀態(tài)或使某一動作繼續(xù).
① keep + sb/sth + 介詞.如：
If your hands are cold,keep them in your pockets.
如果你覺得手冷,就把它們放在口袋里.
② keep + sb/sth + 形容詞.如：
These gloves will keep your hands warm.
這種手套保暖好.
③ keep +sb/sth + 副詞.如：
The cold weather kept us indoors.
寒冷的天氣使我們呆在家里.
④ keep + sb/sth + V-ing 形式,表示“讓某人 / 某物一直……”,強調(diào)動作的持續(xù)性.如：
I'm sorry I've kept you waiting.
很抱歉,讓你久等了.
⑤ keep + sb/sth + V-ed 形式,表示“讓某人 / 某物一直被……”,賓語是 V-ed 形式,表示的動作的承受者.如：
She kept her eyes shut and stayed where she was.
她緊閉雙眼,呆在原地未動.
7.構(gòu)成的其它動詞短語有：
keep a record （保持記錄）,keep apart （把……分開）,keep back one's tears （忍住眼淚）,keep in touch (with) （保持與……的聯(lián)系）,keep out (of) （把……關在外面）,keep up （保持；使……不能入睡）,keep one's / an eye on （照管,密切注視）,keep away (from) （離開；不接近；戒除）,keep in mind （牢記）,keep one's word （遵守諾言）,keep pace/step with （跟上……的步伐）,keep up with （與……同步；跟上）等.