kept
A2Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The past tense and past participle of the verb 'keep,' meaning to have continued to hold, store, or retain possession or control of something.
Can describe a state of maintenance, compliance with rules, preservation of a condition (e.g., 'kept silent'), or the management of a place (e.g., a well-kept garden).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
'Kept' often implies an action sustained over time rather than a single past event. It can convey obligation (kept a promise), secrecy (kept a secret), or maintenance (kept clean).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Usage and meaning are identical. Potential minor differences in collocation frequency (e.g., 'kept mum' slightly more British).
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
kept + NP (kept the money)kept + NP + Adj (kept it clean)kept + NP + V-ing (kept him waiting)kept + NP + from + V-ing (kept me from leaving)kept + to + NP (kept to the path)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “kept in the dark”
- “kept under wraps”
- “kept on a short leash”
- “kept the ball rolling”
- “kept up appearances”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
She kept detailed financial records for the audit.
Academic
The samples were kept at a constant temperature throughout the experiment.
Everyday
I've kept all my old school books in the attic.
Technical
The server kept the connection alive for 30 minutes of inactivity.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He kept his childhood teddy bear in the cupboard.
- The shopkeeper kept the late-opening hours during summer.
- She kept her composure throughout the ordeal.
American English
- I kept the receipt in my wallet just in case.
- The city kept the parks clean for everyone to enjoy.
- He kept his opinions to himself during the meeting.
adverb
British English
- This usage is not standard for 'kept' as an adverb.
American English
- This usage is not standard for 'kept' as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- It's a poorly kept secret that they're dating.
- The house was beautifully kept, with immaculate gardens.
American English
- He was a kept man, living off his family's wealth.
- The grounds are well-kept and open to the public.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I kept the letter from my friend.
- She kept her room very tidy.
- He kept the money in his pocket.
- The teacher kept a record of all our test scores.
- They kept the news a secret until Friday.
- Please keep this information confidential.
- Despite the pressure, she kept her cool and finished the presentation.
- The government has kept interest rates low to stimulate the economy.
- He kept himself in good shape by swimming regularly.
- The ancient manuscript was meticulously kept in a climate-controlled vault.
- Her unwavering faith kept her going through the most trying times.
- The committee kept deferring the decision, much to the frustration of the stakeholders.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'keeper' in football who KEPT the ball out of the net. The 'p' and 't' at the end of 'keep' are like a locked box where things are KEPT.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSSESSION IS HOLDING (He kept the lead); CONTROL IS HOLDING (She kept her emotions in check); CONTINUITY IS RETAINING A STATE (He kept running).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'kept' for temporary storage (use 'put' or 'left'). 'He kept the book on the table' is unnatural; use 'He left the book on the table.' Use 'kept' for intentional, prolonged holding or maintaining.
- Do not confuse 'I kept doing' (продолжал делать) with 'I stopped doing' (перестал делать).
Common Mistakes
- *She kept on to talk about it. (Correct: kept on talking / kept talking)
- *I was kept wait for an hour. (Correct: kept waiting)
- *He kept the secret to me. (Correct: kept the secret from me / kept it a secret from me)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses of 'kept' is INCORRECT?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'kept' is the irregular past simple and past participle form of the verb 'keep' (keep - kept - kept).
Yes, but primarily in compound adjectives like 'well-kept,' 'ill-kept,' or phrases like 'a kept woman/man,' which has a specific (often negative) social connotation.
They are largely synonymous, both meaning to continue an action. 'Kept on' can sometimes add a slight emphasis on persistence despite difficulty or annoyance.
Remember the pattern: 'kept' + verb-ING or 'kept on' + verb-ING. Never use the infinitive ('to do') directly after 'kept' or 'kept on.' Correct: 'He kept talking.' / 'He kept on talking.'