Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Junkomama]

Hello, teachers.

My dictionary says both "remain" and "keep" mean to be still in the same state or condition.
Then, is it OK to change "remain" to "keep" in the following sentence?
If not, why?

"All the details on these matters remain as they were."

Thank you in advance!
Junkomama

[Mister Micawber]

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They do not both work in your sentence. Though the meanings are generally the same, and they are sometimes interchangeable, 'keep' suggests the involvement of some kind of volition or effort, where 'remain' is a very passive sort of condition.
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_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[Junkomama]

Thank you MR Micawber!
How about the following sentence?
Is it not acceptable either?
"When you come home after one month's absence, you will find dust has covered everything in your house. Nature doesn't let things remain/keep as they were .

Regards,
Junkomama

[Mister Micawber]

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Only 'remain' sounds OK to me there, Junko. I think you may hear speakers use 'keep' casually in both your sentences, but for careful writing, only 'remain' works.
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[Junkomama]

Thank you again for your help, Mister Micawber!

Regards,
Junkomama