Can
you please explain to me the different uses of keep and hold?
I know there are some phrases where I must use keep and some
where I must use hold but sometimes I don't know which one I should
use.
Roger
Woodham replies:
Hold
or keep
We use the verbs hold and keep in many different
ways and with many different meanings. Only when the meaning is
to prevent something from moving can they be used interchangeably:
Hold / keep the ruler steady so that I can draw a straight
line.
Keep / hold still while I put this necklace on you.
Her talk was so boring that she was unable to hold / keep
my attention.
This is a firm arrangement which cannot be changed. I'll
hold / keep you to this.
We also keep or hold data and records:
He kept / held all his data on a hard disk.
For tax purposes, you do not need to hold / keep financial
records for more than five years.
But you can only hold records in sport, etc, you do not
keep them:
John Lees from the UK holds the record for the fastest walk
across America - 2628 km in 53 days 12 hours 15 minutes between
11 April (the eleventh of April) and 3 June (the third of June).
hold on to = keep
You can see from the above example that one of the slight differences
in meaning is that hold sometimes suggests something temporary
while keep may suggest something more permanent. There is
a similar distinction between hold on to and keep,
meaning not to lose:
Can you hold on to these CDs for me while I'm away?
Hold on to the instructions so that you know what to do if
something goes wrong.
Keep the instructions safely somewhere in case something
goes wrong.
Hold
somebody up = keep
The phrasal verb hold somebody up, meaning delay,
can also be used as an alternative to keep with this meaning:
I don't want to hold you up / keep you, but could I just
have a word?
hold = carry / put arms around / contain / organise event
When hold means to carry, or to put ones arms
around or to contain or to organise an event, we cannot
substitute keep in its place:
Can you hold my books for me while I look for my mobile phone?
He held her tightly and hoped that she would stop crying
soon.
Old Trafford, the home of Man U, holds 67,000 spectators
while Highbury, the home of their main rivals, Arsenal, holds
only half that amount.
I plan to hold a meeting soon to see if we can increase profitability.
Referendums have been held in all central European countries
in connection with EU membership.
Keep
= continue / store / stay in good condition
When keep means any of these, we cannot substitute hold
in its place. When keep means continue, note that
it may be followed either by verb-ing or by the preposition
on + verb-ing:
Don't turn left or right, just keep right on till the end
of the road.
You must keep taking the medication until you are quite better.
I kept (on) reminding him that he should take my advice,
but he ignored me.
Where do you keep the keys to the shed? I can't find them.
Let's buy two kilos of peaches now. They'll keep in the fridge
for about two weeks
If you want to keep fit, eat plenty of fruit!
We also keep secrets and promises and you keep your word.
You do not hold them:
Can you keep a secret? Jane's going to have a baby.
He failed to keep his promise / his word and told everybody
about it.
If
you would like more practice more please visit our in the You, Meand Us part of our
website.
