Word Family Worksheets

✔ To keep something in an existing state (from decline, making repairs, correcting problems) 

- We need to maintain discipline in class 

- I am going to maintain my manly beauty. 

- You should maintain your car once a year 

- He couldn't maintain his diet so he turned into a fat bastard. 

✔ To affirm an argument (assert): 

- He maintained that he didn't kill the chicken! 

-We used to maintain that the world was flat! 

✔ To provide for: 

- Excuse me, but I have a family to maintain! 

● Other examples: (learn some of these common collocations by heart): 

- They have always maintained high standards of professional conduct. 

- He has found it difficult to maintain a healthy weight. 

- The company has done a poor job of maintaining its computer network. 

- It was obvious that the house had been poorly maintained. 

- She was finding it hard to maintain her balance. 

- She still maintains a close relationship with her college roommate. 

- It's difficult to maintain a correspondence when we're both so busy. 

- The pilot was struggling to maintain control of the aircraft. 

- The police say that they will do whatever is necessary to maintain law and order. 

● Noun: Maintenance: 

- The building has suffered from years of poor maintenance. 

- The costs of routine car maintenance 

- Maintenance of law and order 

- Money for the family's maintenance