What are the definitions of “keep in”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Not allow someone out.
The teacher KEPT the students IN after school because they had misbehaved.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “keep in”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb keep in is to not allow someone to leave a place, usually as a form of punishment or to ensure their safety. For example, a teacher might keep in students who misbehaved during class.
What are the different verb forms of “keep in”?
| Root Verb | keep in |
| Third Person Singular Present | keeps in |
| Present Participle | keeping in |
| Simple Past | kept in |
| Past Participle | kept in |
Example
The coach keeps the players in the locker room during halftime.
Example
She keeps her dog in the house when it's raining outside.
Example
He is keeping the children in the classroom until their parents arrive.
Example
Yesterday, the teacher kept the students in after school for detention.
Example
The children were kept in the house during the storm.
What kind of phrasal verb is “keep in”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“keep in” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
The teacher kept the students in after school.
Example
She kept her dog in the house when it was raining.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“keep in” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
The teacher kept the students in after school.
Example
She kept her dog in the house when it was raining.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “keep in”?
Good things to know
Does “keep in” have an informal or formal tone?
Keep in is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can also be used in more formal settings, depending on the specific context.
