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When do we use keep + to inf and keep + ing? I searched on the internet and did not find anything really accurate and precise on the topic.

some1 here
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    Apparently, we don't use keep with to infinitive, "keep to" would be a phrasal verb that should be followed by a noun or gerund. – Mohd Zulkanien Sarbini Feb 19 '17 at 12:59
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    That's right. "Keep" takes only a participial phrase, not an infinitive one. – Colin Fine Feb 19 '17 at 13:22
  • Hopefully, if I still can help, I found a link that can help you. Basically, to+infintive---purpose. ing+gerund------remain the state. LINK: https://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/gerund_or_infinitive_different_list.htm – Thunder05 Nov 08 '20 at 20:46
  • @Thunder05, what does it mean to remain the state? – some1 here Nov 09 '20 at 11:15
  • @ohidano I refer to continue the action, remain the state of continuing of an action (take a look at the web I sent to you to understand better it). – Thunder05 Nov 09 '20 at 21:17

1 Answers1

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We use the verb keep with the present participle to emphasize that the ongoing action persists or persisted (or that it should persist, if the verb is in the imperative).

I warned him to stop, but he kept walking out onto the thin ice.

When you feel discouraged, keep trying.

When long distance runners "hit the wall", they must summon the fortitude to keep running.

At the theater, only a rude idiot keeps talking after the movie has begun.

TimR
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