Hey, keep it down over there. I'm recording a video. Thank you. Some
people. Hey, everyone. I'm Alex. Thanks for clicking, and welcome to this lesson
on: "Ten Common Imperatives with the Verb 'Keep'". So, in this lesson, I will
give you some useful language that you can use in conversation; and what you
can recognize when you see it in film, if you hear it in a song, or in a series
that you're watching. So, this is all very useful language. "Keep" is one of
the most common verbs that English speakers use to make commands and
imperatives, as you will see shortly. So, first: "Keep going". So, "to keep
going" means that you are encouraging someone to continue or to keep moving
forward. So, this can have a couple of different contexts. Number one: If
you're in a line, and someone in front of you is playing on their phone, and
the line is moving; they're not moving — you can say: "Excuse me. Keep going".
Like: "Keep moving". Okay? Like: "Don't stop; keep mo-... keep going; keep
moving". You can also be watching sports on TV and be yelling at your TV, for,
you know... if someone is playing soccer, and they're getting closer to
the net, you can say: "Keep going, keep going, keep going!" Don't stop; keep
moving forward; keep continuing to do what you are doing.
Next: "Keep trying". So, this means: Continue making an effort. You are
probably familiar with this one. It just means: Don't stop doing what you're
doing; keep making an effort. Another imperative with "keep" that has a very
similar meaning is: "Keep at it". So, "keep at it" — it means: Don't give up;
continue making an effort. So, these two are linked: "Keep trying" or "Keep at
it". Okay? "Keep trying. You're not going to improve on the piano or the
guitar if you just give up. Keep trying; keep at it — you will improve." Just
like with your studying English. "Keep at it. Keep trying. Don't give up; you
will get it." Next... the next two are actually very similar as well. "Keep
quiet". Okay? So, this means: Stay silent. If you are a parent, this is a
very useful imperative. I have nothing to say or nothing to add to that. Yeah,
just... I say it a lot. Probably too much. All right? So: "Keep quiet",
means, like: Stay silent. "Daddy's on the phone. Okay? So, keep quiet". Or:
"Keep it down". Now, "Keep it down" — this means to keep the volume down; keep
the volume low, or to stay silent; become silent. "Keep it down" means
become completely silent; or, like: "Reduce the volume, please." Okay?
"You're too loud; keep it down". All right.
Next: "Keep it to yourself". Okay? So, this means: Don't tell anyone. Shh. It's
a secret. Okay? So, if your friend comes up to you and says: -"Hey. Did you hear
about Barbara? Pss, pss, pss, pss, pss, pss, pss." -"What? Barbara?" -"Shh, shh,
shh, shh, shh, shh. Keep it to yourself, okay? Don't tell anyone." Now, this
imperative can also be a little rude if you are, you know... talking to someone
or someone is talking to you, and they're very excited to tell you
something, but you don't care about what they're saying or you don't want to hear
what they're saying — either because you have no patience or there isn't enough
time — you can say: "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Keep it to
yourself. Nobody wants to hear this right now. Okay? So, just keep it to
yourself." You keep it inside your, you know... inside your mind, inside your
heart. No one needs to hear this or no one wants to hear this right now. So:
"Shh. Keep it to yourself" — it's a secret. Or: "Keep it to yourself" —
nobody cares. It's a little rude, but it's possible. Okay, next. Where are we?
Ah, there. "Keep your chin up. Okay. So, how... and what kind of body language do
you use if you are feeling negative, or down, or sad? Right? Some people, if
you're sad, your chin is probably down; your eyes are looking at the ground, and
you're not feeling great. If someone tells you to "keep your chin up", it
means: Try to stay positive. Okay? So, for example, if you recently got out of
a relationship, and your friends are trying to encourage you, and you're
saying: "I will never find someone. Oh, Stephanie. I love you and miss you so
much, Stephanie, why?" And your friends say: "Buddy, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa. Keep your chin up. Okay? Try to stay positive. She wasn't good for you.
You can do better than Stephanie. In fact, don't think about Stephanie
again." Okay? I'm going to go call Stephanie now. I don't know a Stephanie.
So: "Keep your chin up" — try to stay positive; it's not the end of the world.
Okay? Maybe Stephanie will come back one day.
So, next. Very common. If you are watching this and we are still in the
midst of a pandemic, regardless of, you know... when you're... when you're
watching this, and if COVID-19 is still making the world a different place right
now: "Keep your distance". This means: Stay away. So, here in Canada, the rule
is to keep a two-meter distance from people who are, you know... keep
social... keep your social distance means stay away a certain, you know...
length of time; not, like, length of time. Length of space. Yeah. You know
what I mean. "Keep your distance" — stay away. And, finally: "Keep the change".
So: "Keep the change" means: Don't give me the change; you keep it. If you pay
for something and that thing costs 50 cents — you only have one dollar —
that's a lot of change, actually. That's, like, 100%. Okay? Profit. So, if
it costs 50 cents; you only have one dollar — you say: "Yep. Here's a dollar.
I'm going to buy this" — if it's a bag of chips, or a chocolate bar, or
something — and you say: "That's okay. Keep the change." Okay? Don't give me
back the extra 50 cents that you're supposed to give me for, you know... the
thing I just bought. All right? And if you have ever seen the movie: "Home
Alone", you might remember the line in the movie, where they're watching... or
Kevin McAllister is watching this gangster movie and the guy, like, starts
shooting the guy on the outside. And once he, you know... kills him... think
it's Snakes. Snakes is the guy that shoots. Or Snakes is the guy that
shoots. Anyway, he goes: "Keep the change, you filthy animal." Right?
"Filthy" means, like, dirty. So, like: You dirty animal. Anyway, go watch:
"Home Alone". It's an all-time classic, even though it has elder abuse and other
problematic aspects to it, but it's a holiday classic. Haven't shown it to my
kids. Not sure if I will anytime soon. They're a little young for the violence
and the stuff. Back to "keep". That's what we were talking about, right?
So, one more time to review; and this time, I want you to practice the
pronunciation. Put your heart and soul into it. Let me feel you commanding it
with the imperatives that I'm going to give you. So, repeat after me. I don't
care if you're on the bus. Okay? Just do it. Just do it; scare people. Maybe
you'll... you'll make a friend. So: "Keep going", "keep trying", "keep at
it", "keep it up", "shh, keep quiet", "keep it down", "keep it to yourself",
"keep your chin up". This is your chin, right? "Keep your chin up", "keep your
distance", "keep the change, you filthy animal". Not you; I was just quoting the
movie. So, please don't take that the wrong way. And you know what? Because
this is a long video... did I do: "Keep it up"? I'm not sure if I did. So, just
in case I didn't: "Keep it up" means to continue in the same way. So, if you're
doing well or someone is doing well at something, and you want to encourage
them to keep going in the same way, you say: "Keep it up. Good job". Continue in
the same way. And just like you're keeping it up and... and you're...
bababa. Give me a moment. Brain reset. There we go. Just like you're keeping it
up and you are practicing your English on a regular daily basis. So, good job
and you keep that up. Till next time. Don't forget to check out the quiz on
www.engvid.com so you can test your understanding of all of this material.
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