ENGLISH
REFERENCE

carry on with sth

phr. v..
A2 Elementary Oxford

phr. v.. To continue doing an activity you have already started. You use it when you don't stop what you are doing.

phr. v.. To continue an activity, often after an interruption or pause. This transitive phrasal verb is common in both spoken and written English.


SIMPLE

Please carry on with your work.

CONTEXTUAL

After the fire alarm stopped, the teacher told everyone to carry on with the test.

COMPLEX

Despite the sudden downturn in the market, the CEO insisted they must carry on with their ambitious expansion plans as if nothing had changed.

Particles
on with
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
carry + on + with + object
Usage

Typically followed by a noun or gerund phrase specifying the activity being continued.

Teaching tip

Distinguish from the intransitive 'carry on' (meaning 'continue' generally, or 'behave badly') and 'go on' (which can also mean 'happen').

Pitfall

Please carry on your work.Please carry on with your work.The preposition 'with' is required when specifying the activity that is being continued.

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