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B2 noun #1,800 más común 14 min de lectura

maintenance

Top 1,800

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos maintenance en 30 segundos

Explicación maintenance in your Level:

At the A1 level, learners are just beginning to build their English vocabulary. The word 'maintenance' is quite long and difficult for a beginner, but the idea is simple. Imagine you have a bicycle. If you want the bicycle to work well every day, you have to clean it, put air in the tires, and add oil to the chain. This work is called maintenance. It means taking care of things so they do not break. Beginners can understand this word by thinking about everyday jobs. For example, cleaning a house, washing a car, or fixing a small problem before it becomes a big problem. At this level, students might not use the word 'maintenance' very often when they speak, because they can use simpler words like 'fix', 'clean', or 'take care of'. However, they might see this word on signs. For example, if a bathroom in an airport is closed, the sign might say 'Closed for Maintenance'. This means someone is cleaning it or fixing something inside. If a website is not working, it might say 'Under Maintenance'. This means the computer workers are fixing the website. So, for A1 learners, it is most important to recognize this word when reading signs or websites. They should know that it means 'work to keep something good'. They do not need to worry about the complex spelling or the abstract meanings yet. Just knowing that a 'maintenance worker' is a person who fixes things in a building is a great start for a beginner.

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At the A2 level, learners can understand more about how things work in daily life. The word 'maintenance' becomes more useful. At this stage, students learn that maintenance is the regular work you do to keep something in good condition. It is not just fixing something after it breaks; it is doing things so it does not break. For example, taking a car to the garage every year for new oil is car maintenance. Paying someone to cut the grass and clean the pool is garden maintenance. A2 learners can start using this word to talk about jobs and responsibilities. They can say, 'My job is building maintenance,' or 'The maintenance of this old car is very expensive.' They also learn compound nouns like 'maintenance worker' (the person who fixes things) and 'maintenance fee' (the money you pay every month if you live in an apartment building to keep the hallways clean). At this level, learners should practice pronouncing the word correctly: main-te-nance. They should also remember that it is usually an uncountable noun. We do not say 'a maintenance' or 'two maintenances'. We just say 'maintenance'. Understanding this word helps A2 learners read rental agreements, understand car manuals, and talk to landlords or mechanics about keeping their property in good shape. It is a very practical word for everyday adult life.

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At the B1 level, learners are expected to discuss familiar topics in more detail, and 'maintenance' is a key vocabulary word for topics like housing, technology, and work. A B1 learner understands that maintenance is a proactive process. It involves routine checks, servicing, and repairs to ensure equipment, buildings, or systems continue to function efficiently. They can distinguish between 'maintenance' (preventing problems) and 'repair' (fixing problems that have already happened). At this stage, learners can use the word in various contexts. In IT, they understand 'software maintenance' means updating programs and fixing bugs. In real estate, they know about 'property maintenance'. They can also use common collocations, such as 'routine maintenance', 'regular maintenance', or 'scheduled maintenance'. They know which verbs to use with it, such as 'perform maintenance' or 'require maintenance'. For example, a B1 student can write a simple email saying, 'The printer requires maintenance because the ink is low.' They also start to understand the idiomatic use of the word when describing people. They might learn the phrase 'high-maintenance' to describe someone who needs a lot of attention or money, though they might still use it cautiously. The focus at B1 is on using the word accurately in practical, everyday situations, writing clear sentences, and understanding its role in different industries like mechanics, computing, and property management.

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At the B2 level, learners have a solid grasp of the language and can use 'maintenance' with confidence and precision in both concrete and abstract contexts. They fully understand the core definition: the process of keeping something in good condition through routine checks, repairs, and care. Furthermore, they grasp its secondary meaning: the act of sustaining or continuing a particular state, belief, or relationship over time. A B2 learner can comfortably discuss 'the maintenance of international peace' or 'the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle'. They are highly aware of the grammatical constraints, knowing it is an uncountable noun and correctly spelling it without the 'ai' in the second syllable. They master a wide range of collocations, using verbs like 'conduct', 'undertake', 'carry out', and 'schedule' appropriately. They can read and understand complex texts, such as technical manuals, lease agreements, or software update logs, where this word frequently appears. They also understand legal and financial nuances, such as 'child maintenance' (alimony/child support) or 'deferred maintenance' in business. In conversation, they fluently use idioms like 'high-maintenance' and 'low-maintenance' to describe personalities, pets, or lifestyles. At this level, the word is fully integrated into their active vocabulary, allowing them to express complex ideas about preservation, upkeep, and sustainability across multiple domains, from engineering to human psychology.

At the C1 level, learners possess an advanced, nuanced understanding of 'maintenance' and can deploy it sophisticatedly in academic, professional, and literary contexts. They appreciate the subtle distinctions between maintenance, preservation, conservation, and sustenance, choosing the exact right word for their specific rhetorical purpose. A C1 user can engage in complex discussions about the economic implications of 'preventative maintenance' versus 'reactive maintenance' in industrial engineering. They can write formal reports detailing 'maintenance protocols', 'maintenance overheads', and 'maintenance lifecycles'. They understand the abstract applications of the word in sociology and political science, such as 'the maintenance of the status quo' or 'the maintenance of social hierarchies'. Their use of collocations is native-like; they might discuss 'ongoing maintenance', 'meticulous maintenance', or 'inadequate maintenance' without hesitation. Furthermore, they can manipulate the word family easily, transitioning between the noun 'maintenance', the verb 'maintain', and the adjective 'maintainable' to create varied and cohesive texts. They are also sensitive to register, knowing when to use formal phrases like 'undertake structural maintenance' in a business proposal versus casual phrases like 'I'm pretty low-maintenance' in a social setting. At this level, the word is a flexible tool used to articulate high-level concepts regarding the preservation of systems, structures, and societal norms.

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At the C2 level, the learner's mastery of 'maintenance' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. They possess a profound, almost intuitive grasp of the word's etymology, semantic range, and cultural connotations. They can deconstruct complex texts where maintenance is used as a central theme, such as philosophical essays on the maintenance of personal identity over time or legal treatises on the maintenance of contractual obligations. A C2 user can employ the word in highly specialized jargon across various fields—from the 'maintenance phase' of a medical treatment plan to the 'maintenance margin' in financial trading. They can play with the word stylistically, using it in metaphors, analogies, or rhetorical devices. For instance, they might write a critique on how modern consumerism discourages the maintenance of goods in favor of planned obsolescence. They are acutely aware of the sociolinguistic aspects of the word, understanding how terms like 'maintenance staff' can carry class implications in certain contexts, and they can navigate these sensitivities adeptly. At this pinnacle of language proficiency, 'maintenance' is not just a vocabulary item to be learned; it is a conceptual framework through which the C2 speaker can analyze and articulate the universal necessity of effort required to resist entropy in all human and natural systems.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

maintenance en 30 segundos

Keeping things working: The physical work of checking, cleaning, and repairing machines or buildings.
Preventing problems: Doing work before something breaks to save money and time later.
Sustaining abstract things: The effort needed to keep relationships, peace, or health in a good state.
Financial support: In law, the money paid to support a former spouse or children.

The concept of maintenance is fundamentally rooted in the idea of preservation, care, and the ongoing effort required to keep something functioning at its optimal level. When we discuss maintenance, we are not merely talking about fixing things when they break; rather, we are exploring a proactive, continuous process designed to prevent degradation, failure, or decline. This term applies across a vast spectrum of human endeavors, from the mechanical upkeep of vehicles and industrial machinery to the meticulous care of software systems, physical health, and even interpersonal relationships. Understanding maintenance requires acknowledging that all systems, whether natural or artificial, are subject to entropy and wear over time. Without deliberate, scheduled, and thoughtful intervention, these systems will inevitably deteriorate. Therefore, maintenance is the active resistance against this natural decline. It encompasses a wide variety of tasks, including routine inspections, cleaning, lubricating, updating, and replacing worn components before they cause a catastrophic failure. In a broader, more abstract sense, maintenance also refers to the act of sustaining a particular state of affairs, a belief system, or a financial standard of living. For example, the maintenance of law and order in a society requires the constant vigilance and effort of legal and law enforcement institutions. Similarly, the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle demands daily choices regarding diet, exercise, and mental well-being.

Preventative Maintenance: This refers to the scheduled, routine care given to an asset to prevent unexpected failures, much like changing the oil in a car before the engine seizes.

The factory manager emphasized that regular maintenance of the assembly line machinery is absolutely critical to avoid costly production delays.

Software maintenance involves patching security vulnerabilities and updating features to ensure the application remains compatible with new operating systems.

Beyond the physical realm, the concept extends deeply into human interactions and societal structures. The maintenance of a friendship, for instance, requires regular communication, mutual support, and the resolution of conflicts. If left unattended, relationships can wither just as surely as a neglected garden.

Deferred Maintenance: This is the practice of postponing maintenance activities such as repairs on both real property and personal property in order to save costs, meet budget funding levels, or realign available budget monies.

The city's infrastructure suffered greatly due to decades of deferred maintenance, leading to crumbling bridges and pothole-filled roads.

Proper maintenance of your dental health includes brushing twice a day, flossing, and visiting the dentist every six months.

Furthermore, in the context of ecology and environmental science, the maintenance of an ecosystem refers to the delicate balance required to sustain biodiversity and natural resources. This involves conservation efforts, pollution control, and sustainable practices that ensure the environment can continue to support life.

Routine Maintenance: These are the simple, everyday tasks performed on a regular schedule to keep equipment running efficiently, such as cleaning filters or checking fluid levels.

The landlord is responsible for the general maintenance of the apartment building, including the plumbing and electrical systems.

Ultimately, understanding the word maintenance is about recognizing the universal truth that nothing lasts forever without care. It is a word that embodies responsibility, foresight, and the commitment to preserving value, functionality, and quality across all aspects of human life and the natural world.

Using the word maintenance correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as a noun and the specific verbs and adjectives that frequently accompany it. As an abstract noun, it typically functions as an uncountable entity, meaning it rarely takes a plural form. You will most often see it used as the object of verbs like 'require', 'need', 'perform', 'carry out', or 'schedule'. For instance, a complex machine 'requires maintenance', a technician 'performs maintenance', and a facility manager 'schedules maintenance'. It is also highly common to use it as a modifier in compound nouns, such as 'maintenance worker', 'maintenance schedule', 'maintenance cost', or 'maintenance fee'. These compound forms are ubiquitous in professional, technical, and everyday contexts. When describing the type or frequency of the upkeep, adjectives are crucial. We frequently use terms like 'routine', 'regular', 'preventative', 'ongoing', 'annual', or 'poor' to qualify the noun. A 'routine maintenance' check implies a standard, expected procedure, whereas 'poor maintenance' suggests neglect that could lead to failure.

Collocation with Verbs: Maintenance strongly pairs with action verbs indicating execution or necessity, such as 'undertake', 'conduct', 'require', and 'provide'.

The IT department will conduct scheduled server maintenance this weekend, so the network will be temporarily unavailable.

High-performance sports cars typically require more frequent and expensive maintenance than standard commuter vehicles.

In financial and legal contexts, the usage shifts slightly. Here, maintenance often refers to the provision of financial support. For example, 'child maintenance' or 'spousal maintenance' are legal terms used in many jurisdictions to describe the money paid to support a former partner or children after a separation. In property management, tenants often pay a 'maintenance fee' to cover the costs of keeping shared areas in good condition. Understanding these domain-specific usages is vital for advanced proficiency.

Compound Nouns: The word frequently acts as an adjective modifying another noun, creating specific terms like 'maintenance crew', 'maintenance manual', or 'maintenance contract'.

If you experience any issues with the heating system, please contact the maintenance staff immediately.

The new software comes with a one-year maintenance agreement that covers all updates and bug fixes.

When using the term metaphorically, such as 'the maintenance of peace' or 'the maintenance of a relationship', the preposition 'of' is almost always used to connect the action to the abstract concept being preserved. This structure emphasizes the ongoing effort required to sustain an intangible state.

Metaphorical Usage: Applying the concept of physical upkeep to abstract concepts like relationships, peace, standards, or traditions.

The United Nations is dedicated to the maintenance of international peace and security.

Mastering the usage of maintenance allows a speaker to accurately describe a wide array of preservation activities, from the mundane tasks of household chores to complex global initiatives, making it an indispensable word in the B2 vocabulary arsenal.

The word maintenance is omnipresent in both professional and everyday environments, reflecting its critical role in modern society. You will encounter it frequently in contexts related to housing, transportation, technology, and business. In the realm of housing and real estate, it is a daily vocabulary word. Homeowners discuss the maintenance of their lawns, roofs, and HVAC systems. Renters interact with maintenance workers or submit maintenance requests when a faucet leaks or an appliance breaks. Condominium owners pay monthly maintenance fees to ensure the upkeep of common areas like lobbies, pools, and elevators. In these settings, the word is associated with the practical, physical labor required to keep living spaces safe and comfortable. Moving to transportation, the automotive and aviation industries rely heavily on this concept. Car owners are familiar with the maintenance schedule in their vehicle's manual, dictating when to change the oil, rotate tires, and replace brake pads. In aviation, aircraft maintenance is a highly regulated, rigorous field where the word carries the weight of life-or-death consequences.

Real Estate and Housing: Used to describe the upkeep of buildings, apartments, and grounds, often involving dedicated staff and specific budgets.

I had to call the building manager because the elevator is down for maintenance again.

The airline has an impeccable safety record due to its strict adherence to rigorous aircraft maintenance protocols.

The technology sector is another major domain for this word. Software maintenance involves updating programs to fix bugs, improve performance, or adapt to new environments. IT professionals frequently schedule server maintenance during off-peak hours to minimize disruption to users. In business and finance, the term is used to describe the costs associated with keeping assets operational. Companies have maintenance budgets and maintenance contracts with service providers. In a more abstract sense, human resources professionals might talk about the maintenance of employee morale or company culture.

Technology and IT: Refers to the ongoing updates, bug fixes, and server management required to keep digital systems running smoothly.

The website will be down for scheduled maintenance between midnight and 4:00 AM.

A significant portion of the IT budget is allocated to the maintenance of legacy software systems.

Finally, in casual conversation, the term is frequently used metaphorically to describe people or relationships. Calling someone 'high-maintenance' is a common, slightly derogatory way to say they demand a lot of attention, effort, or money. Conversely, a 'low-maintenance' friend is someone who is easygoing and doesn't require constant reassurance.

Interpersonal Relationships: Used metaphorically to describe the amount of effort, time, or emotional energy required to sustain a relationship or satisfy a person.

I love hanging out with Sarah; she's so low-maintenance and easy to please.

Whether you are reading a lease agreement, taking your car to the mechanic, browsing a website, or gossiping about a demanding friend, the word maintenance is an essential part of the vocabulary needed to navigate modern life.

Despite its frequency in everyday English, learners often make several common mistakes when using the word maintenance. The most prevalent error relates to its spelling. Because the verb form is 'maintain', many people incorrectly assume the noun form should be spelled 'maintainance'. This is a very common spelling mistake even among native speakers. The correct spelling changes the 'ai' in the second syllable to an 'e', resulting in 'main-te-nance'. Remembering this vowel shift is crucial for accurate written English. Another frequent mistake involves countability. Maintenance is primarily an uncountable noun. Therefore, it is incorrect to say 'I have to do a maintenance on my car' or 'The building needs many maintenances'. Instead, you should use it without an indefinite article or in the singular form, such as 'I have to do maintenance on my car' or 'The building needs a lot of maintenance'. If you need to count specific acts of upkeep, you must use a countable noun phrase, such as 'maintenance tasks', 'maintenance checks', or 'maintenance procedures'.

Spelling Error: Maintainance: The most common mistake is spelling the word with an 'ai' in the middle, mirroring the verb 'maintain'. The correct spelling uses an 'e'.

Incorrect: The factory requires regular maintainance.
Correct: The factory requires regular maintenance.

Incorrect: I performed three maintenances today.
Correct: I performed three maintenance tasks today.

Collocation errors are also common. Learners sometimes use the wrong verb with maintenance. For example, saying 'make maintenance' is incorrect. The appropriate verbs are 'do', 'perform', 'carry out', 'conduct', or 'require'. While 'do maintenance' is acceptable in informal speech, 'perform' or 'carry out' are much better suited for professional or academic writing. Additionally, confusing maintenance with repair is a subtle but important semantic error. Repair implies fixing something that is already broken, whereas maintenance implies proactive care to prevent it from breaking in the first place. While a maintenance worker might do repairs, the concepts are distinct.

Verb Collocation: Make vs. Do/Perform: Using 'make' with maintenance is a direct translation error from many Romance languages. English requires 'do', 'perform', or 'carry out'.

Incorrect: The mechanic will make the maintenance on the engine.
Correct: The mechanic will perform the maintenance on the engine.

Incorrect: We need to make a maintenance of the database.
Correct: We need to carry out maintenance on the database.

Finally, in the context of the idioms 'high-maintenance' and 'low-maintenance', learners sometimes forget the hyphen when using them as adjectives before a noun (e.g., 'a high-maintenance client'). They also sometimes misuse these terms to describe complex machinery, whereas they are almost exclusively used colloquially to describe people, pets, or lifestyle choices (like a garden or a hairstyle). For machinery, we would simply say it 'requires a lot of maintenance'.

Misuse of Idioms: Applying 'high-maintenance' to technical equipment instead of people or lifestyle elements.

Awkward: The new server is very high-maintenance.
Better: The new server requires a lot of maintenance.

By paying attention to spelling, countability, verb collocations, and the specific nuances of its idiomatic use, learners can easily avoid these common pitfalls and use the word maintenance with native-like accuracy.

When expanding your vocabulary around the concept of keeping things in good condition, several words share similar meanings with maintenance, though each carries its own specific nuance. The most direct synonym is 'upkeep'. Upkeep is often used interchangeably with maintenance, particularly when referring to buildings, property, or financial costs. For example, you might talk about the 'upkeep of a large house' or the 'cost of upkeep'. It generally implies the financial and physical effort required to keep something in a functional or presentable state. Another closely related word is 'preservation'. While maintenance focuses on functional operation, preservation leans heavily towards protecting something from decay, damage, or destruction, often to maintain its original state. We speak of the preservation of historical monuments, ancient texts, or natural habitats. Preservation implies a desire to stop time and prevent any alteration, whereas maintenance accepts that things are used and wear out, focusing on keeping them working.

Upkeep: The process of keeping something in good condition, often emphasizing the financial cost or physical labor involved, especially regarding property.

The upkeep of such a massive estate requires a dedicated team of gardeners and handymen.

The museum is dedicated to the preservation of indigenous artifacts and cultural heritage.

'Conservation' is another term often found in similar contexts, particularly regarding the environment or energy. Conservation involves the careful management and protection of natural resources to prevent waste or depletion. While maintenance might involve fixing a leaky pipe, conservation is the broader goal of saving water. In a mechanical context, 'servicing' is a very specific synonym. When you take your car to a mechanic for a scheduled check-up, oil change, and filter replacement, you are taking it in for a service. Servicing is a subset of maintenance, referring specifically to the routine, professional examination and adjustment of machinery.

Servicing: The act of performing routine checks and adjustments on a machine or vehicle by a professional to ensure it operates correctly.

The manufacturer recommends regular servicing of the boiler every twelve months to maintain the warranty.

Water conservation is essential during the summer drought to ensure the reservoir levels do not drop too low.

Finally, the word 'sustenance' shares the root idea of keeping something going, but it is almost exclusively used to refer to food and drink that keeps a living organism alive, or metaphorically, emotional or spiritual nourishment. You would not use sustenance to describe fixing a car.

Sustenance: Food and drink regarded as a source of strength; nourishment. It is the biological equivalent of maintenance.

The hikers carried high-energy protein bars to provide sustenance during their grueling mountain climb.

Understanding these subtle distinctions allows for more precise and articulate communication, ensuring you choose the exact right word for the specific type of care or preservation you are describing.

How Formal Is It?

Nivel de dificultad

Gramática que debes saber

Uncountable Nouns: Using 'much' instead of 'many', and avoiding 'a/an'.

Compound Nouns: Using nouns as adjectives (e.g., maintenance worker).

Prepositions with Nouns: Using 'of' to show the target of the abstract noun (maintenance of peace).

Passive Voice: 'Maintenance is performed by the staff.'

Hyphenated Adjectives: 'High-maintenance' before a noun.

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Ejemplos por nivel

The bathroom is closed for maintenance.

Cleaning or fixing

Used here as a noun indicating a state of being worked on.

He is a maintenance worker.

A person who fixes things

Used as an adjective modifying 'worker'.

Car maintenance is important.

Taking care of a car

Compound noun phrase.

The website is under maintenance.

The website is being fixed

Common prepositional phrase 'under maintenance'.

We do pool maintenance every week.

Cleaning the pool

Used with the verb 'do' in simple present.

I pay a maintenance fee for my apartment.

Money for building care

Used as an adjective modifying 'fee'.

Good maintenance keeps the bike fast.

Taking care makes it good

Used as the subject of the sentence.

They call maintenance when the heater breaks.

Call the fixing team

Used to refer to the department or team.

Regular maintenance will make your car last longer.

Checking the car often

Modified by the adjective 'regular'.

The building needs a lot of maintenance.

Needs a lot of fixing

Used as an uncountable noun with 'a lot of'.

She works in the maintenance department.

The team that fixes things

Compound noun indicating a specific group.

Winter maintenance includes clearing snow from the roads.

Work done in winter

Subject of the sentence, showing examples of the work.

The maintenance costs for this old house are very high.

Money needed to fix the house

Used as an adjective modifying 'costs'.

Please read the maintenance manual before using the machine.

The book that tells you how to take care of it

Used as an adjective modifying 'manual'.

They scheduled maintenance for the computers on Sunday.

Planned time to fix computers

Object of the verb 'scheduled'.

Poor maintenance caused the elevator to stop working.

Bad care

Modified by the adjective 'poor'.

The factory must halt production to perform routine maintenance on the assembly line.

Stop work to do regular checks

Collocation: perform routine maintenance.

Software maintenance is necessary to protect against new computer viruses.

Updating programs for security

Subject of the sentence, specific to IT.

My landlord is responsible for the maintenance of the heating system.

The owner must take care of the heater

Prepositional phrase: responsible for the maintenance of.

He is a very low-maintenance friend; he is happy just sitting and watching TV.

Easy friend, doesn't need much effort

Idiomatic use as an adjective: low-maintenance.

The city budget does not have enough money for park maintenance this year.

Money to keep parks clean

Compound noun: park maintenance.

Preventative maintenance can save you thousands of dollars in expensive repairs.

Fixing things early to save money

Collocation: preventative maintenance.

After the divorce, he was ordered by the court to pay child maintenance.

Money for the children

Legal context: child maintenance.

The maintenance crew worked all night to clean up the stadium after the concert.

The cleaning team

Subject of the sentence: maintenance crew.

The airline's strict adherence to aircraft maintenance protocols ensures passenger safety.

Following rules for fixing planes

Complex noun phrase: aircraft maintenance protocols.

The maintenance of a healthy relationship requires open communication and compromise.

Keeping a relationship good

Abstract usage: maintenance of a relationship.

Due to years of deferred maintenance, the bridge is now structurally unsound.

Postponed repairs

Collocation: deferred maintenance.

The IT department will conduct server maintenance during off-peak hours to minimize disruption.

Do computer checks when few people are using it

Collocation: conduct server maintenance.

She refused to buy the luxury car because the ongoing maintenance costs were exorbitant.

Continuous costs to keep it running

Collocation: ongoing maintenance costs.

The UN peacekeeping force is dedicated to the maintenance of international security.

Keeping the world safe

Abstract usage: maintenance of international security.

Some exotic pets are considered high-maintenance because they require specific diets and temperatures.

Need a lot of special care

Idiomatic adjective: high-maintenance.

The warranty covers all parts and labor, provided that routine maintenance is carried out.

If regular checks are done

Passive voice: maintenance is carried out.

The meticulous maintenance of the historical archives is paramount for future research.

Very careful preservation

Collocation: meticulous maintenance.

The company's failure was largely attributed to the inadequate maintenance of its core infrastructure.

Not enough care for basic systems

Collocation: inadequate maintenance.

In sociological terms, the maintenance of the status quo often benefits those already in power.

Keeping things the same

Abstract concept: maintenance of the status quo.

The new software update includes several patches aimed at the maintenance of system stability under heavy loads.

Keeping the computer system from crashing

Prepositional phrase: aimed at the maintenance of.

He argued that the maintenance of a standing army during peacetime is an unnecessary economic burden.

Keeping an army ready

Historical/Political context: maintenance of a standing army.

The contract stipulates that the lessee is solely responsible for the ongoing maintenance and repair of the leased equipment.

The person renting must fix it

Legal phrasing: ongoing maintenance and repair.

Her garden is a testament to the fact that low-maintenance landscaping can still be breathtakingly beautiful.

Easy to care for garden

Compound adjective: low-maintenance landscaping.

The transition from reactive to predictive maintenance has revolutionized the manufacturing industry.

Fixing things before they break using data

Industry specific: predictive maintenance.

The philosophical treatise explores the cognitive dissonance inherent in the maintenance of contradictory belief systems.

Keeping two opposite ideas in mind

Highly abstract academic usage.

The financial regulator imposed strict capital maintenance rules to prevent the bank from over-leveraging its assets.

Rules to keep enough money

Specialized financial terminology: capital maintenance.

The author's prose requires a certain maintenance of attention from the reader, rewarding diligence with profound insights.

Keeping focus

Literary/Metaphorical usage.

In the realm of evolutionary biology, the maintenance of genetic variation within a population is crucial for adaptation.

Keeping different genes

Scientific context: maintenance of genetic variation.

The insidious nature of systemic corruption lies in its self-perpetuating maintenance mechanisms.

Ways it keeps itself going

Advanced collocation: maintenance mechanisms.

He viewed the elaborate social rituals not as genuine connection, but merely as the tedious maintenance of a superficial facade.

Keeping up a fake appearance

Critical/Sociological observation.

The treaty's efficacy hinged entirely on the mutual maintenance of the demilitarized zone by both hostile factions.

Both sides keeping the area weapon-free

Geopolitical context.

Her minimalist lifestyle was a deliberate rejection of the burdensome maintenance demanded by modern consumerism.

The heavy work required to own many things

Philosophical/Lifestyle context.

Sinónimos

upkeep preservation conservation sustention care repair

Antónimos

neglect abandonment destruction

Colocaciones comunes

routine maintenance

preventative maintenance

perform maintenance

require maintenance

maintenance cost

maintenance worker

deferred maintenance

software maintenance

poor maintenance

ongoing maintenance

Frases Comunes

under maintenance

closed for maintenance

high maintenance

low maintenance

maintenance and repair

scheduled maintenance

maintenance fee

child maintenance

maintenance schedule

carry out maintenance

Se confunde a menudo con

maintenance vs repair

maintenance vs preservation

maintenance vs maintainance (misspelling)

maintenance vs sustenance

Modismos y expresiones

"high-maintenance"

"low-maintenance"

"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (related concept)"

"keep in running order"

"keep the engine running"

"keep up appearances"

"keep the wheels turning"

"spit and polish"

"in good nick"

"wear and tear (what maintenance prevents)"

Fácil de confundir

maintenance vs

Patrones de oraciones

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Cómo usarlo

nuance

Implies a proactive, ongoing process rather than a one-time fix.

formality

Neutral. Can be used in both highly formal legal documents and casual conversation.

regional differences

Legal meanings (alimony vs. child support) vary between US and UK English.

Errores comunes

Spelling it as 'maintainance' instead of 'maintenance'.
Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a maintenance', 'many maintenances').
Using the verb 'make' with it (e.g., 'make maintenance' instead of 'perform maintenance').
Confusing it with 'repair' (maintenance is preventative; repair is reactive).
Forgetting the hyphen when using 'high-maintenance' as an adjective before a noun.

Consejos

The 'Ten' Trick

To avoid the common 'maintainance' spelling error, look for the number 10. Spell it main-TEN-ance. It takes ten people to do the job!

Uncountable Noun

Never put an 's' at the end of maintenance. If you did three jobs, say 'I completed three maintenance tasks', not 'three maintenances'.

Use 'Perform' or 'Conduct'

Upgrade your professional English by avoiding 'do maintenance'. Use 'perform maintenance' or 'conduct maintenance' in emails and reports.

High vs. Low Maintenance

Use 'low-maintenance' to compliment a friend who is easygoing. Use 'high-maintenance' carefully, as it can be an insult meaning someone is too demanding.

IT Terminology

If you work in tech, memorize the phrase 'scheduled maintenance'. It is the standard way to tell users the system will be offline.

Maintenance 'of' or 'on'

We perform maintenance 'on' a machine (physical). We discuss the maintenance 'of' peace or relationships (abstract).

Rental Agreements

When renting an apartment, always look for the 'maintenance' clause. It tells you what repairs you must pay for and what the landlord pays for.

Stress the First Syllable

Say MAIN-tuh-nuhns. Don't stress the middle or end. The last two syllables should be very quick and relaxed.

Routine and Regular

The two most common adjectives to use with this word are 'routine' and 'regular'. 'Routine maintenance is essential.'

Proactive vs. Reactive

Always remember the core meaning: Maintenance is doing work BEFORE it breaks. Repair is doing work AFTER it breaks.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of MAIN-TEN-ANTS. The MAIN TEN ANTS are responsible for the upkeep of the anthill.

Origen de la palabra

Old French

Contexto cultural

In the UK, 'child maintenance' is the standard legal term for child support payments.

In the US, 'maintenance' often refers to alimony in legal contexts (spousal maintenance). Also, 'maintenance fees' are common in HOAs (Homeowner Associations).

The 'Right to Repair' movement is a global cultural shift emphasizing the right of consumers to perform their own maintenance on electronics and vehicles.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Inicios de conversación

"What kind of maintenance does your car require?"

"Do you consider yourself a high-maintenance or low-maintenance person?"

"How much are the maintenance fees in your apartment building?"

"Why is preventative maintenance important in a factory?"

"Have you ever had to deal with deferred maintenance on a property?"

Temas para diario

Describe a time when poor maintenance caused a major problem in your life.

Write about the maintenance required to keep a friendship strong.

Do you think modern society values maintenance or replacement more? Why?

List the routine maintenance tasks you do in your home every month.

Explain the concept of 'preventative maintenance' using an example from your own life.

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

It is spelled m-a-i-n-t-e-n-a-n-c-e. The most common mistake is spelling it 'maintainance' because of the verb 'maintain'. Remember that the 'ai' changes to an 'e' in the noun form.

Maintenance is almost always an uncountable noun. You cannot say 'one maintenance' or 'two maintenances'. If you need to count it, use phrases like 'maintenance tasks' or 'maintenance checks'.

Maintenance is proactive work done to prevent things from breaking, like changing the oil in a car. Repair is reactive work done to fix something after it has already broken, like replacing a blown engine.

It is an idiom used to describe a person, pet, or thing that requires a lot of attention, time, effort, or money to keep happy or in good condition. For example, a friend who constantly needs reassurance is high-maintenance.

In formal English, use verbs like 'perform', 'conduct', 'carry out', 'require', or 'schedule'. In informal English, 'do' is acceptable. Do not use 'make'.

This is a common phrase used when a website, system, or machine is temporarily unavailable because workers are updating it or fixing it. You will often see this on error pages on the internet.

Deferred maintenance is a business and real estate term. It means postponing necessary repairs or upkeep to save money in the short term. This usually leads to much higher costs later when the system completely fails.

Yes, in legal contexts. 'Child maintenance' or 'spousal maintenance' refers to the financial support paid by one person to their former partner or children after a separation or divorce.

Preventative (or preventive) maintenance is the specific practice of regularly inspecting and servicing equipment to prevent unexpected failures. It is the opposite of waiting for something to break before fixing it.

It is pronounced with three syllables: MAIN-te-nance. The stress is heavily on the first syllable. The second and third syllables use the relaxed 'schwa' sound.

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