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Keep phrasal verbs

Posted on May 10, 2011 by admin
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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.

exercise1

exercise 2

exercise 3

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11 thoughts on “Keep phrasal verbs”

  1. mahmoud khalil says:
    May 10, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    you are so wonderful.
    I am grateful to you.

  2. Irian Vasallo Bàez says:
    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

  3. Irian Vasallo Bàez says:
    May 10, 2011 at 6:26 pm

    Irian Vasallo Bàez says:
    Your comment is awaiting moderation.
    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

  4. Amir Maharat says:
    May 11, 2011 at 9:55 am

    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

    1. admin says:
      May 12, 2011 at 9:40 am

      I cover that in the ebook I esnt you 😉 See http://englishgrammarsecrets.com/ingform/menu.php

  5. irina says:
    May 11, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    Thank you for your lessons, I find them helpful.
    Irina.

  6. Jonson says:
    May 12, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    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)

  7. Elena Lizhanskaya says:
    May 13, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    Thank you ever so much, dear Pearson. Your lessons help me greatly!

  8. mohamadreza says:
    May 14, 2011 at 8:39 am

    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.

  9. Didie says:
    May 17, 2011 at 7:56 am

    It improves my English much better, thanks friend

  10. brigitta says:
    June 27, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    my new E’mail adress

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