Python Keywords: Usage Guide
This document provides simple explanations for where and when each Python keyword is
used. It is a helpful guide for students to understand the basic structure and logic of
Python programming.
Keyword Where/When to Use
False Used to represent a false boolean value, often in
conditions.
await Used in async functions to wait for a coroutine to
complete.
else Used after if/for/while blocks to define alternate
behavior.
import Used to import external Python modules or
libraries.
pass Used as a placeholder where code will be written
later.
None Represents a null or no value; used as default
return.
break Exits a loop immediately.
except Handles exceptions that occur in try blocks.
in Checks membership or iterates over sequences.
raise Manually raises an exception.
True Represents a true boolean value.
class Used to define a new user-defined class.
finally Executes code after try/except blocks, regardless of
outcome.
is Tests object identity, not just equality.
return Used to return values from a function.
and Logical AND, used to combine conditions.
continue Skips current iteration and continues loop.
for Loop that iterates over a sequence.
lambda Defines an anonymous function in one line.
try Starts a block to test for errors.
as Used to create aliases for modules or exceptions.
def Defines a function.
from Imports specific items from a module.
nonlocal Refers to variables in the nearest enclosing scope.
while Loop that runs as long as a condition is true.
assert Tests if a condition is true for debugging.
del Deletes objects or elements.
global Declares a global variable inside a function.
not Logical NOT; inverts a boolean expression.
with Simplifies exception handling in resource
management.
async Declares a function as asynchronous.
elif Else if, used in conditional logic.
if Starts a conditional branch.
or Logical OR; true if at least one condition is true.
yield Returns a value from a generator and saves state.
Summary Use Cases:
Control Flow → if, else, elif, while, for, break, continue, pass
Functions → def, return, yield, lambda
Error Handling → try, except, finally, raise, assert
Modules → import, from, as
Data/Logic → True, False, None, and, or, not, is, in
OOP → class, global, nonlocal
Async Programming → async, await
File/Resource Handling → with
Below are usage of Keywords with example are as follow:
Keyword Example
False is_raining = False
await await [Link](1)(used in async functions)
else if x > 0: print("Positive") else: print("Non-positive")
import import math
pass deffunc(): pass(used as a placeholder)
None value = None
break for i in range(5): if i == 3: break
except try: x=1/0 except ZeroDivisionError: print("Cannot divide by 0")
in if 'a' in 'apple': print("Yes")
raise raise ValueError("Invalid input")
True is_hot = True
class class Dog: pass
finally try: x=1 finally: print("Always runs")
is x = None; if x is None: print("None")
return def add(): return 5 + 3
Keyword Example
and if x > 0 and x < 10: print("Valid")
continue for i in range(5): if i == 2: continue
for for i in range(3): print(i)
lambda square = lambda x: x*x
try try: print(5/0) except: print("Error")
as import math as m
def def greet(): print("Hello")
from from math import sqrt
nonlocal def outer(): x = "out" def inner(): nonlocal x; x = "in"
while while x < 5: x += 1
assert assert 2 + 2 == 4
del a = [1,2]; del a[0]
global global x; x = 10
not if not x: print("False")
with with open("[Link]") as f: print([Link]())
async asyncdef fetch(): pass
elif if x == 1: print("One") elif x == 2: print("Two")
if if x == 5: print("Yes")
or if x < 0 or x > 10: print("Out of range")
yield def gen(): yield 1; yield 2
