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Boeun Lee Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

keep - stative verb right?

Is it correct to use the both ?

1. My family had been keeping the secret for decades.

2. My family had kept the secret for decades.

* In my opinion, I think #2 is right because "keep" is one of stative verbs, (linking verbs such as remain, stay,...) so we can not add "~ ing".

Please help me Emotion: smile Thanks
  

Top answer

1. 2. My family had kept the secret for decades.

— CalifJim

  • 1.
  • 2.
  • My family had kept the secret for decades.
  • Both are correct.
  • Boeun Lee "keep" is one of stative verbs ...
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2 Answers
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Boeun LeeIs it correct to use the both ?1. My family had been keeping the secret for decades.2. My family had kept the secret for decades.
Both are correct.
Boeun Lee"keep" is one of stative verbs ... so we can not add "~ ing".
That is a false rule. Sometimes stative verbs are used in the continuous tenses.

It is b
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There are very few verbs that are used exclusively statively. When used statively, very few inded are used in the progressive aspect. I can think only of look, sound, feel, taste and smell.

In keep a secret, keep is not stative. if you keep a secret, you are consciously not revealing it.
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