Keep going means to continue and not stop, especially when things are hard or you want to give up. People say it to encourage a runner in a race or a tired student: Keep going, you're nearly there!
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keep going (until …); keep + -ing (keep trying); keep + person + going
- I was exhausted after twenty kilometres, but the crowd helped me keep going.
- If you don't know a word in the reading test, keep going and come back to it later.
- A strong coffee and a sandwich kept me going until the end of my shift.
What changed
First versionThe first month of running is hard, but you need to keep to go.
RevisionThe first month of running is hard, but you need to keep going.
When keep means “continue”, the next verb takes -ing: keep going, keep trying, keep practising. The pattern keep to + verb may look like want to go or try to go, but it doesn't exist in English. Keep to means something else entirely: to stick to something, as in keep to the plan.
Keep going stresses effort: not giving up even though it is hard. Go on more often simply means “continue” after a pause: Go on, I'm listening. And keep someone going is about what gives you the energy to carry on: Music keeps me going at the gym.
Your turn
The hill was steep and my legs hurt, but I told myself to ___ until I reached the top.
Show the answer
keep going — The climb is hard, but the person doesn't give up and keeps walking, so keep going: after keep, the verb takes -ing. Keep to go is not a possible pattern in English.
Think of something difficult that you didn't give up on. Write what it was and what helped you keep going.
Learning to swim at thirty was hard, but I kept going because my coach believed in me.
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