hello,teachers! relax relaxing or relaxed?

[Harry12345]

Hello,teachers!
Which answer is corect?


“Don’t be so nervous! Try to keep __，” Mom told me.
A relax B relaxing C relaxed

Thank you!

[birdeen's call]

First you tell us what you think and why. Somebody will surely confirm or correct your answer then.

[Harry12345]

First you tell us what you think and why. Somebody will surely confirm or correct your answer then.

Dear birdeen, If I knew which one I should choose, why I came here?

[birdeen's call]

Dear birdeen, If I knew which one I should choose, why I came here?

Fair enough. Let's try to work it out then.

Maybe this one will be easier for you:


“Don’t be so nervous! Try to be __，” Mom told me.
A relax B relaxing C relaxed

I have changed "keep" to "be". Do you have any idea which one to choose now? Which part of speech should be used, a verb, an adjective or maybe something else? Why?

[Harry12345]

Fair enough. Let's try to work it out then.

Maybe this one will be easier for you:


“Don’t be so nervous! Try to be __，” Mom told me.
A relax B relaxing C relaxed

I have changed "keep" to "be". Do you have any idea which one to choose now? Which part of speech should be used, a verb, an adjective or maybe something else? Why?

If it's be， Ithink the answer may be relaxed. But I don't think we can say keep relaxed.

[birdeen's call]

OK, very good. When it's "be", "relaxed" is the correct answer. Do you now why?

It may seem strange to you, but "keep" means something similiar to "be" in this sentence. I isn't "keep" like "keep something". In your sentence, "keep" means

To remain in a state or condition; stay: keep in line; keep quiet; kept well.

(It's a quotation from the American Heritage Dictionary)

Do you understand now?