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JLPT N4Verb Forms

〜続ける(つづける) — Keep doing / Continue

A compound verb suffix expressing the continuation of an action without stopping.

Grammar path · 練習

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Pro lessonUNIT 83 · VERB FORMS

Structure · 形

[Verb masu-stem] + 続ける

Examples · 例文

  • 毎日練習し続けた結果、上手になった。

    Mainichi renshuu shitsuzuketa kekka, jouzu ni natta.

    As a result of continuing to practice every day, I improved.

    練習し + 続けた = kept practicing

  • 雨が降り続けている。

    Ame ga furitsuzukete iru.

    It keeps on raining.

    降り + 続けている = continues to fall

  • 彼は3時間も走り続けた。

    Kare wa sanjikan mo hashiritsuzuketa.

    He kept running for as long as three hours.

    走り + 続けた = kept running without stopping

Usage notes · 注意

  • Aspect suffix set: 〜始める (start), 〜続ける (continue), 〜終わる (finish).
  • Note: 続ける is a ru-verb.
  • Summary: 言い続ける (keep saying), 頑張り続ける (keep trying).

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones 〜続ける is tested against.

vs〜ている (progressive)

〜ている just marks an action in progress; 〜続ける emphasizes persistence/duration — actively keeping it up over time (話し続ける = keep talking on and on, not merely 話している = is talking).

vs〜始める / 〜終わる

続ける marks the middle 'continue' phase; 始める marks the onset and 終わる/終える marks completion of the same action.

More verb forms

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