To continue doing something, to not stop, or to repeatedly nag someone.
To continue doing something without stopping, or to repeatedly say the same thing to someone.
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To continue doing something without stopping.
"Even when you feel tired, you need to keep on practising if you want to improve."
If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.
— Martin Luther King Jr. (attributed, various speeches)
To repeatedly nag or talk to someone about the same thing.
"He keeps on about how tired he is — I wish he'd just get some rest."
To continue employing someone.
"They decided to keep on all the staff after the merger, which was a relief."
Followed by a gerund (keep on doing something). When used with a person as object, it means to repeatedly nag or bother that person. Also means to continue employing someone. One of the most common and versatile phrasal verbs in everyday English.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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