38. Focus on: the verb keepand adverbs and adverbials showing degrees of variability

Phrasal verbs with keep

Several phrasal verbs are based on the verb keep, and it is important to understand that the essential meaning of keep in these phrasal verbs is no change. As you study these verbs, remember than in each meaning of each verb something is not changing, something is continuing in the same direc­tion or in the same manner, or something is staying in the same place or in the same condition.

Adverbs and adverbials showing degrees of variability

A variety of adverbs and adverbial groups of words that together function as adverbs are used to modify phrasal verbs that relate to something variable, such as distance, time, cost, speed, temperature, amount, or quantity.

Adverbs and adverbials allow the speaker to be more precise about what is being measured — to say whether it was a little or a /of or to be precise about exactly how much. But the verb must be something that is variable. In cannot be something either/or, such as shut off, for example (a TV is either on or off — it cannot be in between). Adverbs and adverbials are used to strengthen the meaning of the verb:

He fell asleep on the train and went well beyond his stop.

She fell way behind in her work when she was sick.

Keep far away from the fire.

to weaken the meaning of the verb:

I went a bit over my budget.

Keep slightly to the right on that road.

He fell a little behind.

The meeting may run somewhat over. 289

or to be exact:

We planned two weeks ahead.

Go three floors up.

Sometimes, in informal English, way is repeated for extra emphasis:

What Jim said went way, way, way beyond impolite — it was outrageous.

1. keep at p.v. When you keep at it, you continue with an activity even though it may be difficult. When you say "Keep at it" to people, you encourage them to finish with an activity that is difficult.

I know this work is difficult, but you have to keep at it.

Keep at it; you're almost finished.