Remain and keep are both commonly used English words, and both of them mean "to keep", but they have some differences in specific usage and context. This article will analyze the differences between remain and keep from three aspects: word meaning, usage, and context, to help you better grasp these two words.
The basic meaning of remain is "to stay, to remain, to continue to exist", emphasizing the continuity of something or someone in a certain state or position, without being influenced or changed by the outside world. For example:
the building remained intact after the earthquake.(*Later, the building is still intact.) ）
he remained silent throughout the trial.(He remained silent throughout the trial.) ）
only a few minutes remain until the end of the game.(There are only a few minutes left until the end of the game.) ）
The basic meaning of keep is "to keep, to maintain, to keep", emphasizing the stability of something or someone in a certain state or position, which requires a certain amount of effort or control. For example:
keep the door closed, please.(Please close the door.) ）
he keeps a diary every day.(He keeps a diary every day.) ）
she keeps her room tidy and clean.(She keeps the room neat and tidy.) ）
Both remain and keep can be used as transitive or intransitive verbs, but their collocations and formations differ.
remain, when used as an intransitive verb, can be followed by a noun, adjective, adverb, prepositional phrase, participle, or infinitive to mean "to maintain a certain state or position". For example:
he remained a bachelor all his life.(He's been single all his life.) ）
the weather remained cold and wet.(It was cold and wet all the time.) ）
she remained here until he came back.(She stayed here until he returned.) ）
the problem remains unsolved.(This issue is still unresolved.) ）
he remained to finish the report.(He stayed behind to finish the report.) ）
When keep is used as a transitive verb, it can be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund to mean "to keep, to keep, to keep, to continue to do". For example:
he kept the money for himself.(He kept the money to himself.) ）
she keeps a cat as a pet.(She has a cat as a pet.) ）
he keeps his promise.(He kept his promise.) ）
she keeps smiling.(She's smiling all the time.) ）
Keep, when used as an intransitive verb, can be followed by an adjective, adverb, prepositional phrase, or clause to mean "to maintain a certain state or position." For example:
he kept calm in the face of danger.(He remains calm in the face of danger.) ）
she kept still and listened carefully.(She doesn't move, listening carefully.) ）
he kept in touch with his old friends.(He keeps in touch with his old friend.) ）
she kept wondering what had happened.(She kept wondering what was going on.) ）
REMAIN and KEEP have different tones and meanings in different contexts.
Remain is often used in a formal or written context to indicate objective facts or status quo, sometimes with a persistent or unyielding tone. For example:
the situation remains tense and uncertain.(The situation remains tense and uncertain.) ）
he remained loyal to his country.(He remained loyal to his country.) ）
she remained confident of her success.(She is confident in her success.) ）
Keep is often used in colloquial or informal contexts to indicate a subjective will or attitude, and sometimes with an exhortatory or commanding tone. For example:
keep quiet, please.(Please be quiet.) ）
keep up the good work.(Keep up the good work.) ）
keep your chin up.(Cheer up.) ）
Both remain and keep have the meaning of "keep", but remain emphasizes the continuity of something or someone in a certain state or position, which is not affected or changed by the outside world, and is usually used in a formal or written context to indicate an objective fact or status quo, sometimes with a persistent or unyielding tone; Keep emphasizes the stability of something or someone in a certain state or position, which requires a certain amount of effort or control, and is usually used in a colloquial or informal context, indicating a subjective will or attitude, and sometimes with a tone of exhortation or command. They also have some differences in specific usage and collocations, and it is necessary to choose the right words according to the context and semantics.