大家常以為「保持」對應的英文字叫keep
事實上多數情況的「保持」都不是keep
keep這個字的意思應該要說是「一直…；保有…；把…留下；維持」等意思
比如說 He kept sneezing. (他一直打噴嚏。)
They keep a record of visitors. (他們保有一份訪客的紀錄。)
You can keep the money. (你可以把這筆錢留著。)
Her love for her children is what keeps her alive. (她對孩子的愛是她活下去的動力。)
比較接近「保持」的意思時，英文裡應該要用片語keep up
像是稱讚別人有好表現時會說Keep up the good work. (繼續保持/維持好表現。)
如果把兩個字分開，keep …… up 則是指把…保持在良好狀態
像是 Ted’s dad promised to buy him a new computer if he keeps his grades up.
(如果泰德能保持好成績，他爸爸答應買新電腦給他。)
要說「保持健康」、「保持清潔」時
要說 stay healthy 和 keep …… clean 才對
例如：
What do you do to stay healthy? (你都如何保持健康？)
I take vitamins and exercise to stay healthy. (我吃維他命和運動來保持健康。)
Keep your bedroom clean. (你的臥室要保持乾淨。)
Please keep the restroom clean. (請保持廁所的清潔。)
(註：公共場所的廁所、洗手間叫restroom，居住場所的才是bathroom)
stay這個字主要指保持某種狀態
而使某人或某事物保持某種狀態則是「keep + 受詞 + 形容詞」，不能缺受詞
我們再來造些句：
How does she stay so young-looking?
(她是用什麼方法凍齡的？)
“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” is one of the most famous quotes from Steve Jobs.
(「不要停止追求。不要害怕犯儍。」這句話是賈伯斯的名言之一。)
She seems to have trouble keeping her mouth shut.
(她似乎沒辦法好好閉上她的大嘴巴。)
It takes a lot of effort to keep such a big place spotless.
(要保持這麼大的地方一塵不染是很費工夫的。)
文章轉自{Sammy老師官網}
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