To give or to keep company?

[FalaGringo]

I've heard of "Keep company" but what about "Give company"?

"Would you like me to keep you company?"
"Would you like me to give you some company?"

 

[emsr2d2]

I've heard of "keep someone company" but what about "give someone company"?

"Would you like me to keep you company?" :tick:
"Would you like me to give you some company?" :cross:

See my corrections above.

No, we don't say that. You could say "Would you like some company?" It's generally accepted that the speaker is offering their own company, not suggesting that a third party comes along and keeps the listener company.

 

[GoesStation]

To keep company is extremely old-fashioned.

 

[teechar]

To keep company is extremely old-fashioned.

I think that's too strong. It's still in use in various non-American dialects of English.

 

[jutfrank]

To keep company is extremely old-fashioned.

Do you mean to keep someone company?

It's not old-fashioned in the slightest to a BrE speaker.

 

[GoesStation]

Do you mean to keep someone company?

It's not old-fashioned in the slightest to a BrE speaker.

No, that's fine. I was thinking of the old-fashioned phrase they're keeping company for people who are regularly seeing one another romantically.

 

[5jj]

No, that's fine. I was thinking of the old-fashioned phrase they're keeping company for people who are regularly seeing one another romantically.

OK. That's old-fashioned in BrE, too.

 

[Tdol]

That's old-fashioned, but keeping someone who is on their own company is not.