continue to play

USAGE SUMMARY

"continue to play" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in a sentence, such as, "I will continue to play the game even if I'm losing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Usage

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You continue to play.

The New Yorker

"I just want to continue to play".

The New York Times - Sports

"Our defense will continue to play strong.

The New York Times - Sports

He wanted to continue to play.

The New York Times

We continue to play matchmaker".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

we can't continue to play like that".

The New York Times - Sports

I would like to continue to play.

The New York Times - Sports

So why continue to play at all?

The Guardian - Sport

We're going to continue to play well".

The New York Times - Sports

I will continue to play both.

The New York Times - Arts

They continue to play every Saturday.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "continue to play" when you want to emphasize the ongoing nature of an activity, especially in the face of potential interruptions or changes. For example, "Despite the rain, the children continue to play in the park."

Common error

Avoid mismatching the tense of "continue" with the rest of the sentence. For example, instead of "He will continued to play," use "He will continue to play."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continue to play" functions as an infinitive phrase, typically used as part of a verb phrase to indicate the ongoing nature of an action. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Sports

18%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "continue to play" is a versatile infinitive phrase used to express the ongoing nature of an activity, particularly in sports, news, and general conversation. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is important to use the correct tense of "continue" and to match it with the subject. Alternatives such as "keep playing" or "carry on playing" can be used depending on the specific context. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, followed by Sports. Given its frequent usage and clear grammatical structure, "continue to play" is a reliable and effective way to express ongoing participation in an activity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep playing

Focuses on maintaining the current state of playing without interruption.

go on playing

Similar to "keep playing" but may imply a longer duration.

carry on playing

Implies a continuation despite potential difficulties or interruptions.

resume playing

Indicates a return to playing after a pause or break.

proceed to play

Suggests a more formal or structured continuation of playing.

persist in playing

Highlights the determination to continue despite challenges.

sustain playing

Emphasizes the effort required to maintain the activity of playing.

never stop playing

Emphasizes the indefinite continuation of the activity.

hold playing

Suggests maintaining current state as player.

endure playing

Suggests continuing to play through hardship or difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "continue to play" in a sentence?

You can use "continue to play" to describe the ongoing action of playing, such as, "Despite the injury, he hopes to "continue to play" this season".

What are some alternatives to "continue to play"?

You can use alternatives like "keep playing", "carry on playing", or "go on playing", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "continues to play" instead of "continue to play"?

Yes, "continues to play" is correct when the subject is singular. For example, "He continues to play well". "Continue to play" is used with plural subjects or in the infinitive form.

What is the difference between "continue to play" and "resume playing"?

"Continue to play" implies an uninterrupted action, while "resume playing" suggests a return to playing after a break or pause.