“keep at”是一个常用的英语短语,核心含义围绕“持续专注/坚持”,但根据语境可细分为两种主要用法:
强调不放弃、持续投入某件需要努力或耐心的事,常用来鼓励他人或自我激励。
结构:`keep at + 名词/代词/doing sth`
例子:
1、 Keep at your math homework—you’ll solve that problem soon!(坚持做数学作业,你很快会解出那道题!)
2、 She kept at practicing the guitar for hours every day, and now she plays beautifully.(她每天坚持练几小时吉他,现在弹得很棒。)
3、 I know running is tiring, but keep at it—your stamina will improve.(我知道跑步累,但坚持下去——你的耐力会提升的。)
常用搭配:`keep at it`(口语中最常见,指“坚持下去”),比如:
— I’m so tired of studying for this exam.(我烦死备考了。)
— Just keep at it! It’ll be over soon.(坚持住!很快就结束了。)
表示反复提醒、催促某人做某事,带有“烦扰”的意味(多为负面语境)。
结构:`keep at sb (about/over sth)`
例子:
1、 My dad keeps at me about getting a part-time job.(我爸一直催我找兼职。)
2、 Stop keeping at her over her grades—she’s already stressed enough!(别老纠缠她的成绩了——她已经够焦虑的!)
3、 The boss kept at us about meeting the deadline this week.(老板一直催我们本周完成截止任务。)
keep at vs keep on:
`keep at`侧重“专注持续”(比如坚持做一件需要投入的事);
`keep on`侧重“反复进行”(比如习惯性或无意识地重复做某事)。
例:
He keeps on forgetting his umbrella.(他总忘带伞。)—— 反复发生的动作;
He keeps at learning how to cook.(他坚持学做饭。)—— 持续专注的努力。
keep at vs stick to:
`keep at`强调“行动上的坚持”(做具体的事);
`stick to`强调“原则/计划的坚持”(比如坚持 diet、plan 等)。
例:
Stick to your budget this month.(这个月坚持预算。)—— 原则;
Keep at saving money every month.(每月坚持存钱。)—— 具体行动。
“keep at”的核心是“持续投入”:要么是自己坚持做某事,要么是催促他人坚持做某事。记住两个关键结构:
坚持做某事:`keep at sth/doing sth`;
催促某人:`keep at sb about/over sth`。
通过具体例子代入语境,更容易掌握它的用法~