Maintaining a condition or a claim

The idea

Use maintain with an object for upkeep or continuation. Use maintain that to assert something, often despite disagreement. The past is maintained.

Examples

• The technician maintains the heating system every winter.
• The garden team maintains the paths after heavy rain.
• We maintained a steady pace throughout the climb.
• The library maintains a quiet space for study.
• Mina maintains that the report contains an error.
• Despite the criticism, the author maintained that the figures were accurate.

Watch out

Do not use maintain to to introduce a claim: say maintain that the figures are accurate.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct answer. The company ___ its lifts regularly. (maintains / maintain)

   Show answer or example answer

   maintains

   maintains agrees with the singular company and describes regular care.

2. Choose the correct answer. The witness maintained ___ the door was locked. (that / to)

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   that

   that introduces what the witness asserted.

3. Choose the correct answer. They ___ a calm tone during yesterday’s meeting. (maintained / maintains)

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   maintained

   maintained places the calm tone in the completed meeting.

Use it today

Describe something you maintain and a claim someone maintained.