A. Give

• All that noise has given me a headache.
• The walk this morning gave me an appetite [made me hungry].
• Listening to Wai Sin has given me an idea.

We often use give with different nouns to express an action.

• He gave me some advice [advised me].
• Valentina gave us a shock when she shouted like that. [shocked us]
• I had to give a speech at the wedding. [talk formally to a group of people; also give a lecture]
• I’ll give her a ring [ring/phone her].
• I had lots of work to do, but fortunately Ollie gave me a hand [helped me].

She gave me a hug.	He gave the car a push.

B. Keep

• Keep right [stay on the right side].
• This coat will keep you warm.
• She asked us to keep quiet.
• Going to the gym keeps me fit.

Keep (on) doing something means to repeat doing something, and often it is something you don’t want to do or happen.

• I keep losing my glasses.
• I keep getting backache.
• She keeps on interrupting me. [talks to me / disturbs me when I am doing something]

If you keep in touch, you continue to communicate with someone, especially by phone or email.

• I met Mara on holiday and we’ve kept in touch ever since.

If you keep a secret, you don’t tell other people something that you know.

• Tom told me not to tell anyone about his new job, but I’m not very good at keeping a secret.

If you keep something up, you continue doing something at a high level.

• You’re working hard and your English is improving. That’s good – keep it up.

C. Miss

• When I went to work in Hungary, I really missed my girlfriend.

If you miss what someone says, you don’t hear it.

• I’m sorry, I missed that. What did you say?

If you miss a chance / opportunity, you don’t use an opportunity to do something.

• Lily’s been chosen for the team, but now she’s injured, she might miss her chance to play.

If you miss something, you manage to avoid it or not experience it.

• I left home early in order to miss the rush hour.