What's the difference between Still and Keep?

Question

I need to know which word I should use in this case:

James is still using my car

or

James keeps using my car

If they are both correct so what's the difference?

Answer 1

If someone keeps [on] doing something, they do it repeatedly in a way you find annoying or surprising.

So, you might say "James is still using my car" if you had made an arrangement to lend it to him or let him use it on certain occasions, and the arrangement was still in place.

You might say "James keeps using my car" if he repeatedly borrowed it when you wished he wouldn't.

Answer 2

The obvious difference is "keep" is a verb and "still" is an adverb, but you're probably not asking about that. But that difference makes it difficult to directly compare them. Here's my best shot.

Functionally, your two example sentences are the same and could refer to the same situation. They do carry different nuances though.

The version with "still" carries the nuance that you expected that he would have stopped using your car by now.

The version with "keeps" carries the nuance that James is deciding to keep using the car. It gives James agency in the sentence, where the "still" version just describes a situation that hasn't stopped.

Answer 3

The choice between "James is still using my car" and "James keeps using my car" depends on the context and what you want to emphasize.

"James is still using my car" suggests that James started using your car at some point and continues to do so up to now. It emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action.

"James keeps using my car" implies that James has been using your car repeatedly or continuously, possibly without your approval. It can convey a sense of frustration or annoyance.

If you want to emphasize that James hasn't stopped using your car, go with the first option. If you want to highlight that James is repeatedly or continually using your car, perhaps in a way that bothers you, choose the second.