〜続ける "keep doing / continue to"
-tsuzukeru
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
An action continues without interruption.
V-ます stem + 続ける means "keep doing / continue to do": 走り続ける (keep running), 勉強し続ける (keep studying), 働き続ける (continue working). The action goes on without a break, or as a long-term habit. 続ける is transitive and volitional, so the pattern is used mainly with actions a person does; for things that continue by themselves (rain, noise) the intransitive 〜続く (降り続く) is used.
Describing persistence and long habits (十年間働き続けている), resolutions (これからも勉強し続けたい), and describing effort in stories. It pairs well with duration expressions such as 三時間も, 一年間, ずっと.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
V-ます stem + 続ける: 走る → 走り続ける, 話す → 話し続ける, 勉強する → 勉強し続けるConjugates as Group 2: 続けます / 続けた / 続けて / 続けたいIntransitive events: V-ます + 続く: 雨が降り続く, 音が鳴り続くDuration expressions go before: 三時間も走り続けた
Visual diagram
走り (ます-stem of 走る)
verb stem
- + + 始める走り始めるstart running
- + + 続ける走り続けるkeep running (the runner's effort)
- + + 続く (intransitive)(雨が) 降り続くkeep on (of events that continue by themselves)
- + + 終わる走り終わるfinish running
Natural examples
三時間も走り続けた。
さんじかんも はしりつづけた。
I kept running for three whole hours.
も stresses the long duration; 走り続けた shows uninterrupted effort.
これからも日本語を勉強し続けたい。
これからも にほんごを べんきょうしつづけたい。
I want to keep studying Japanese from now on.
し続けたい: a resolution to keep going.
彼は十年間この会社で働き続けている。
かれは じゅうねんかん この かいしゃで はたらきつづけている。
He has continued working at this company for ten years.
〜続けている: a habit that has continued up to now.
疲れても、ゴールまで歩き続けた。
つかれても、ゴールまで あるきつづけた。
Even though I was tired, I kept walking to the finish.
歩く → 歩き続ける; persistence despite difficulty.
朝から雨が降り続いている。
あさから あめが ふりつづいている。
It has been raining continuously since morning.
Rain is not a doer, so the intransitive 続く is used: 降り続く.
Similar grammar and the difference
〜ている
〜ている simply describes an ongoing action (走っている). 〜続ける stresses that it goes on and on, often with effort.
The start of the action; 続ける is its continuation. Compare side by side
働いていく means you will go on working into the future; 働き続ける focuses on not stopping. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 雨が三日間降り続けた。
- ✓
- 雨が三日間降り続いた。
- Why
- Rain has no will, so the intransitive 続く is preferred. (続ける is heard in speech but the exam expects 続く for natural events.)
- ✗
- 十年間、この会社で働く続けている。
- ✓
- 十年間、この会社で働き続けている。
- Why
- 続ける attaches to the ます-stem.
- ✗
- 毎日運動を続けし続ける。
- ✓
- 毎日運動を続ける。/ 毎日運動し続ける。
- Why
- Do not stack 続ける twice. Either N + を続ける or V-stem + 続ける.
〜続けている is the natural form for a habit that is still going: 二十年間日記を書き続けている. Noun + を続ける is the plain verb: 勉強を続ける (continue studying) means the same as 勉強し続ける. Pairs: 続ける (transitive) / 続く (intransitive), like 始める / 始まる and 終える / 終わる.
JLPT N4 tips
On the exam
- Duration + も (三時間も, 一週間も) plus a verb blank strongly points to 〜続ける.
- If the subject is weather or a sound (雨, 雪, 音, ベル), choose 続く, not 続ける, when both appear.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜続ける "keep doing / continue to" mean?
An action continues without interruption. V-ます stem + 続ける means "keep doing / continue to do": 走り続ける (keep running), 勉強し続ける (keep studying), 働き続ける (continue working). The action goes on without a break, or as a long-term habit. 続ける is transitive and volitional, so the pattern is used mainly with actions a person does; for things that continue by themselves (rain, noise) the intransitive 〜続く (降り続く) is used.
How do you form 〜続ける "keep doing / continue to"?
V-ます stem + 続ける: 走る → 走り続ける, 話す → 話し続ける, 勉強する → 勉強し続ける / Conjugates as Group 2: 続けます / 続けた / 続けて / 続けたい / Intransitive events: V-ます + 続く: 雨が降り続く, 音が鳴り続く / Duration expressions go before: 三時間も走り続けた. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜続ける "keep doing / continue to" used?
Describing persistence and long habits (十年間働き続けている), resolutions (これからも勉強し続けたい), and describing effort in stories. It pairs well with duration expressions such as 三時間も, 一年間, ずっと.
What is the difference between 〜続ける "keep doing / continue to" and 〜ている?
〜ている simply describes an ongoing action (走っている). 〜続ける stresses that it goes on and on, often with effort.
What is the difference between 〜続ける "keep doing / continue to" and 〜始める?
The start of the action; 続ける is its continuation.
What is a common mistake with 〜続ける "keep doing / continue to"?
Wrong: 雨が三日間降り続けた。 Right: 雨が三日間降り続いた。 Rain has no will, so the intransitive 続く is preferred. (続ける is heard in speech but the exam expects 続く for natural events.).
Quick check
彼は五時間も（ ）続けた。