This lesson looks at the verb ‘to keep’ combined with particles:
‘to keep at’ something means to continue doing something even if it is hard or unpleasant.
- Learning phrasal verbs is hard so you have to keep at it every day.
- I had to finish so I kept at it for an hour before I took a break.
‘to keep back’ means to not use or give away all of something.
- Keep back some of the cream to put on top of the dessert.
- We kept back some of the money for emergencies.
‘to keep down’ means to stop the number or level of something from rising.
- If we want to make a profit this year, we have to keep costs down as much as possible.
- I try to eat well and exercise regularly to keep my weight down.
‘to keep off’ = means to not go onto an area.
- Please keep off the grass.
- Keep off the motorway in the morning, there are always traffic jams at that time.
‘to keep off’ can also mean to not talk about a particular subject.
- He started talking about it. I tried to keep off the subject.
- He can’t keep off the question of climate change, he never stops talking about.
‘to keep on’ means to continue with something.
- All night long he kept on asking me questions about it.
- I asked him to stop but he just kept on.
‘to keep out of’ means to not get involved in something.
- It’s not my business. I keep out of their arguments.
- It’s got nothing to do with me. I’m keeping out of it.
‘to keep to’ means stay on a subject when talking.
- We don’t have much time so can we keep to the agenda, please?
- Can you keep to the point, please?
‘to keep up’ means to go at the same speed as someone or something.
- She was walking so fast that I couldn’t keep up with her.
- I’ve got too much to do at the moment. I can’t keep up with my work.
you are so wonderful.
I am grateful to you.
Dear pearson,
thank you very much once more for your useful lessons. I feel I am improving the English language everyday. I study all that and learn a lot.
Congratulations on Mother`s Day.
Irian from Cuba
Irian Vasallo Bàez says:
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May 10, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Dear pearson,
thank you very much once more for your useful lessons. I feel I am improving the English language everyday. I study all that and learn a lot.
Congratulations on Mother`s Day.
Irian from Cuba
Thanks very much for your nice and very useful gramatical points.
I have one question :
when we use simple verb after TO and when we use ing form after to ?
Thank you very much
Best Regards
Amir
I cover that in the ebook I esnt you 😉 See http://englishgrammarsecrets.com/ingform/menu.php
Thank you for your lessons, I find them helpful.
Irina.
Hi,
This lesson impressed me a lot! 🙂 I really learnt much.
Keep up your great work… I will share your blog with my friends.
(From – Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India)
Thank you ever so much, dear Pearson. Your lessons help me greatly!
Hi Dear Pearson,
How are you?
I was worried about your health and i hope that you become healthy as soon as possible.My english is improving everyday and i do the exercises regularly.
Thank you very much again.
It improves my English much better, thanks friend
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