Keep vs. Maintain

These two verbs are synonyms but they are grammatically different. Follow the lesson to find out more.

What is the difference between 'keep' and 'maintain'?

Both 'keep' and 'maintain' mean to make something stay in a particular state or condition. However, they are grammatically different. This lesson will explore the similarities of these two verbs as well as their differences in terms of the structure of sentences that use each of them.

Similarity

Both 'keep' and 'maintain' mean 'to make something remain in the same state or condition or at the same level'. They involve actions taken to ensure the continued existence, condition, or functioning of something. For example:

To keep your computer running smoothly, it's important to regularly update the software.

The company tries to keep its prices competitive by monitoring the market.

The athlete worked hard to maintain his level of fitness throughout the off-season.

The artist maintained a consistent style throughout her career.

Difference

As you might have noticed in the examples above, 'keep' and 'maintain' are not completely interchangeable as they form different structures. While 'maintain' only requires a noun or noun phrase as its object, 'keep' is a complex transitive verb which requires a noun or noun phrase plus a complement that describes the state or condition that is to remain the same. Take a look at the examples below:

Regular exercise and a balanced diet are crucial to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

'a healthy lifestyle' is the object of the verb 'maintain.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet are crucial to keep your lifestyle healthy.

The same idea can be expressed using 'keep', but the structure of the sentence has to change: 'your lifestyle' is a noun phrase and 'healthy' is its complement.

Could you please keep the documents safe until I return?

Here, 'the documents' is the object and 'safe' is the complement.

Furthermore, 'keep' can also mean 'to remain in a particular state or condition'. In this case, it is a linking verb that connects a subject to its complement, but does not need an object. 'Maintain' is always transitive and cannot be used interchangeably with 'keep' in this structure. For example:

I'm trying to keep calm and focus on my breathing.

The crowd kept quiet as the lecturer presented his argument.

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