该短语是及物动词短语,结构为:
(主语是“陪伴者”,sb.是“被陪伴者”)
1、 表示“主动陪伴”(缓解对方的孤独或无聊):
I'll keep you company while you wait for the bus.(你等公交车的时候我陪你。)
She stayed home to keep her sick mother company.(她留在家里陪生病的妈妈。)
2、 回应对方的“孤独需求”:
A: I'm so lonely tonight.(我今晚好孤单。)
B: Don't worry—I'll keep you company.(别担心,我陪你。)
3、 描述“长期/习惯性陪伴”:
My dog always keeps me company when I work from home.(我居家办公时,我的狗总陪着我。)
The old man’s neighbor often keeps him company on weekends.(老人的邻居周末常陪他。)
注意与 "keep company with sb." 区分:
"keep company with sb." 更偏向“与某人交往/谈恋爱”(较正式,暗含“亲密关系”);
例:She's been keeping company with a lawyer lately.(她最近在和一个律师谈恋爱。)
而 "keep sb. company" 仅指“单纯陪伴”,无额外情感色彩。
可替换为更正式的 "accompany sb."(陪伴某人),但 "keep sb. company" 更口语化、更有温度。
例:I'll accompany you to the hospital. = I'll keep you company to the hospital.(我陪你去医院。)
总结:"keep sb. company" 是表达“陪伴”的实用短语,重点在“缓解孤独”,适用于日常场景中主动或应需的陪伴行为。