What Does โCarry on doing sthโ Mean?
โCarry on doing sthโ means to continue doing something without stopping. It is often used when someone keeps an action or behavior going.
Introduction
The phrase โcarry on doing sthโ is a common English expression used to describe the act of continuing an activity or behavior. The โsthโ stands for โsomething,โ which means you can replace it with any verb ending in -ing. For example, โcarry on workingโ or โcarry on talking.โ Understanding the carry on doing sth meaning helps learners express persistence or continuation clearly in conversations. This phrasal verb is widely used in both formal and informal settings, making it essential for English learners to master. Whether you want to encourage someone to keep going or describe ongoing actions, โcarry on doing sthโ is a useful phrase to know.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: carry on doing something
- Type: intransitive phrasal verb
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to continue doing an activity
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โCarry on doing sthโ is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means you cannot separate โcarry onโ and place an object between them.
Structure patterns:
- Carry on + verb-ing (e.g., carry on working)
- Carry on + doing something (e.g., carry on reading the book)
Note: You cannot say โcarry something on doingโ โ this is incorrect.
How to Use โCarry on doing sthโ?
Use โcarry on doing sthโ when you want to say that someone continues an action or behavior. It can show encouragement or describe persistence. It is often used to talk about ongoing activities that have not stopped.
Examples of contexts include work, study, talking, or any repeated action.
Examples
- She carried on studying even though it was late.
- Please carry on working while I make a phone call.
- They carried on talking despite the noise around them.
- He carried on playing the guitar after the concert ended.
- Carry on doing your best, and you will succeed.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: Carry the work on doing.
- Correct: Carry on doing the work.
- Incorrect: Carry on do the homework.
- Correct: Carry on doing the homework.
- Incorrect: Carry on to work.
- Correct: Carry on working.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include โkeep on doing sth,โ โcontinue doing sth,โ and โgo on doing sth.โ
- Carry on doing sth โ often used in British English, slightly more formal than โkeep on.โ
- Keep on doing sth โ informal, common in everyday speech.
- Continue doing sth โ more formal, used in writing and speech.
- Go on doing sth โ similar meaning but sometimes implies a change or a new action after the first.
Example comparison: โShe carried on working despite the noiseโ vs. โShe kept on working despite the noise.โ Both are correct but differ slightly in tone.
Common Collocations
- Carry on working
- Carry on talking
- Carry on studying
- Carry on playing
- Carry on trying
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of carry on doing sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Are you tired? Should we stop the meeting?
Ben: No, letโs carry on discussing the project. We need to finish it today.
Anna: Good idea! Iโll carry on taking notes.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of โcarry on doing sthโ:
- Even though it was raining, they __________ (carry on / play) football.
- Please __________ (carry on / read) the report while I check the data.
- She __________ (carry on / work) late into the night to finish the project.
FAQs
- Q: Can I say โcarry on to do somethingโ?
A: No, always use โcarry onโ with a verb ending in -ing. - Q: Is โcarry on doing sthโ formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. - Q: Can โcarry onโ be separated by the object?
A: No, โcarry onโ is inseparable. - Q: What does โsthโ mean in โcarry on doing sthโ?
A: โsthโ means โsomething,โ a placeholder for any activity. - Q: Is โcarry onโ the same as โkeep onโ?
A: They are similar but โcarry onโ is more common in British English, while โkeep onโ is informal.
