keep on — continue
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
To continue doing something, especially in a determined or repeated way.
Say it like a native
Textbook He continued to persist in walking despite his fatigue.
Native He just kept on walking.
'Keep on + -ing' naturally means 'continue'; the long version is redundant.
Pattern: keep on + -ing verb
In use
- Even though it was raining, they kept on playing football.daily life
- In my opinion, people should keep on learning new skills throughout their lives to stay competitive in the job market.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ He kept on to walk.
✓ He kept on walking.
'Keep on' is followed by -ing, not 'to'.
Common collocations
keep on + -ing— going, trying, walking, working
Don't confuse it
Similar to 'carry on' or 'continue', but 'keep on' often suggests persistence or repetition.