KEEP Phrasal Verbs · Academia VELA

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Separable Object can go in the middle or after: "keep it down" or "keep down the noise"

Inseparable Object always goes after the particle — never in the middle.

Intransitive No object needed — the verb stands alone.

Phrasal verbs with KEEP

keep upIntransitive

To maintain the same pace or level; to continue at the same standard.

"Keep up the good work — you're making real progress!" / "The team kept up for 80 minutes."

keep onIntransitive

To continue doing something, especially despite difficulties.

"Even when they were losing, the team kept on fighting until the final whistle."

keep up withInseparable

To match the pace or level of others; to stay informed about news or developments.

"It was hard to keep up with the faster teams in the first month." / "I try to keep up with the news every morning."

keep toInseparable

To follow or stick to a plan, schedule, or rule without deviation.

"Elena kept the team to a strict training schedule throughout the season."

keep offInseparable

To avoid something; to stay away from; to prevent something from affecting you.

"She kept the players off sugar and junk food during the week." / "Keep off the grass."

keep awaySeparable

To prevent someone or something from approaching; to stay at a distance.

"The coach kept away anyone who might distract the players during training."

keep inSeparable

To suppress or not express an emotion; to confine someone inside.

"She kept in her frustration and responded calmly." / "The teacher kept the student in after class."

keep backSeparable

To withhold something; to not fully share or express; to stay at a distance.

"She kept back her full opinion until she had all the facts." / "Keep back — the area is not safe."

keep downSeparable

To suppress or control; to keep at a low level; to not let something rise.

"Keep down the panic and focus on what you can control." / "The company worked hard to keep costs down."

keep atInseparable

To persist with something; to continue working on it without giving up.

"Keep at it — every practice session makes you better." / "She kept at the problem until she found the answer."

⚠️ "Keep on," "carry on," and "go on" all mean "continue" — but with subtle differences!
✓ "Keep on trying!" → Continue trying — strong, motivational tone. Often used as encouragement.
✓ "Carry on with your work." → Continue what you were doing — often despite a disruption or difficulty.
✓ "Go on — tell me what happened." → Continue speaking — inviting someone to resume.
All three are followed by a gerund (-ing form) or a noun. "Keep on + -ing" is the most emphatic for encouragement.

Reading: Coach Elena

📖 Coach Elena

Coach Elena had been training the Nicoya youth soccer team for three years. Her philosophy was simple: keep at it, no matter what.

In their first season, the team struggled to keep up with faster, more experienced opponents. Some players wanted to quit. But Elena kept them on track. "Keep at it," she told them. "Every practice makes you better." She kept the team to a strict training schedule and kept them off sugar and junk food during the week.

As the regional tournament approached, Elena kept away anyone she felt might distract the players — including overly anxious parents who showed up at practice shouting instructions from the sideline. She kept the atmosphere calm and focused. During a key match, the referee made a controversial call. Elena kept in her frustration and didn't argue. After the match, she kept back her full opinion and simply said, "We play our best and respect the result."

The team fell behind 2–0 in the semifinals. Elena told them at halftime: "Keep down the panic. Focus." They came back to win 3–2.

In the final, they kept up with a much stronger team for 80 minutes. Then exhaustion set in. But the team kept on fighting. Final score: 1–0. Nicoya. "I always kept up with their progress," Elena said after the trophy ceremony. "And they never stopped keeping up with mine."

Reading comprehension — 10 questions