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～続ける — keep doing / continue

1. Basic structure

TypeFormation with ～続けるExample patternsNotes
VerbVます + 続ける読み続ける、使い続けるExpresses "continue doing V" (prolonged/repeated)
Polite formVます + 続けます勉強し続けますPolite
ProgressiveVます + 続けている働き続けているThe state is still continuing
NegativeVます + 続けない通い続けないDo not continue
PastVます + 続けた書き続けたContinued (in the past)
PotentialVます + 続けられる走り続けられるCan continue doing

2. Main meanings & detailed analysis

  • Indicates an action or state maintained or repeated over a period of time: "continue/keep V-ing."
  • Emphasizes persistence/length more than just ～ている (which merely states the current state).
  • Naturally fits verbs that extend/repeat: 読む、考える、使う、降る、笑う、練習する,...
  • With instantaneous verbs (瞬間動詞), use when interpreted as "repeated many times": くしゃみをし続ける、ノックし続ける.
  • Often paired with time/frequency adverbs to emphasize duration: ずっと、長い間、何年も、延々と,...

3. Illustrative examples

  • 彼は10年間、同じ会社で働き続けている。
    He has continued working at the same company for 10 years.
  • 雨が降り続けて、川があふれた。
    It kept raining, and the river overflowed.
  • 諦めずに挑戦し続けることが大事だ。
    It's important to keep challenging yourself without giving up.
  • 祖母は毎日、日記を書き続けている。
    My grandmother continues to write in her diary every day.
  • このアプリは更新し続けていく予定です。
    This app is scheduled to keep being updated.

4. Usage & nuances

  • Nuance of "persistent/uninterrupted," with a positive (effort) or negative (tedious) evaluation depending on context.
  • Distinctions:
    • Vている: simply ongoing.
    • V続ける: emphasizes length/repetition over time.
  • Used with an acting subject (transitive verbs) or natural states (intransitive verbs): 人が話し続ける／雨が降り続く(=雨が降り続けている).
  • Usually not used with one-time, non-repeatable verbs (死ぬ, 壊れる, etc.) unless reinterpreted as "happening repeatedly" (壊れ続ける: the machine keeps breaking).

5. Comparison, distinctions, and similar patterns

PatternMeaningMain differenceShort example
VているOngoingNeutral about duration読んでいる (reading)
Vます＋続けるContinue/maintainEmphasizes length/repetition読み続ける (keep reading)
Vます＋っぱなしLeave as-is (state left unchanged)Careless, left as-is; different meaning電気をつけっぱなし
続く vs 続けるIntransitive vs transitive続く: "to continue (itself)"; 続ける: "someone continues (it)."会議が続く／勉強を続ける

6. Additional notes

  • Combine with ていく/てくる to emphasize temporal direction: 増え続けていく (will continue to increase going forward).
  • Causative/passive are rare but possible: 読み続けさせる (make someone keep reading), 読み続けられる (can/be allowed to continue reading).
  • Phrases for stronger emphasis: 読み続けに読む (strong colloquial), ずっとV続ける.

7. Variations & set phrases

  • 言い続ける／やり続ける／学び続ける／考え続ける (common collocations).
  • 居続ける／あり続ける: continue to stay/continue to exist (emphasizes state).
  • NをVます続ける: emphasizes the object being acted on over a long period. Example: 彼女は夢を追い続ける。

8. Common mistakes & JLPT traps

  • Wrong verb type: used with verbs that cannot normally repeat (×死に続ける).
  • Confused with っぱなし: V続ける does not carry the "left as-is" nuance.
  • Forgetting to change to the ます-stem before 続ける: ×読む続ける → ○読み続ける.
  • Subject-object confusion with 続く/続ける: 会議が続ける (wrong) → 会議が続く / 会議を続ける.

Process / Transformation