Types of film

Hello, guys! I hope you're keeping well!

In today’s lesson we’ll take a look at phrasal verbs that use the word KEEP, their definitions and of course, many examples.

Then we’re going to look at some common confusing words and fully explain all these chains of words.

First, let’s revise what the phrasal verbs are.

Phrasal verbs are very common in spoken and written English. So we need them to understand and speak natural English.

Phrasal verb is a verb followed by a preposition or an adverb; the combination creates a meaning different from the original verb.

The verbs with KEEP are very popular in English language.

In its primary meaning the phrasal verb KEEP is translated as «хранить, держать».

But if it is used with the prepositions, it has a completely different meaning and some of them have more than one. So let’s consider some of them.

KEEP AROUND means to keep something near you.

I keep a dictionary around when I’m doing my homework.

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.

Jill kept at the puzzle until she put all the pieces together.

KEEP BACK means

1. to not tell someone everything you know about a situation or an event

I was sure she was keeping something back.

2. maintain a safe distance

The police told the crowd to KEEP BACK from the fire.

KEEP DOWN means to stop the number, level, or size of something from rising.

They need to keep expenses down.

I have to exercise to keep my weight down.

KEEP IN means to make a child stay inside as a punishment, or to make someone stay in hospital:

She kept him in because he had a high temperature.

KEEP IN WITH means to try to be friendly with someone.

I think I must keep in with the boss.

KEEP OFF means to stop touching or harming someone or something

Please keep off the grass.

Keep off the motorway in the morning, there are always traffic jams at that time.

KEEP OFF can also mean to not talk about a particular subject.

He started talking about it. I tried to keep off the subject.

KEEP ON means to continue to do something, or to do something again and again.

He kept on trying and succeeded in the end.

I asked him to stop but he just kept on.

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. Keep me out of this!

KEEP TO means to stay on a subject when talking.

Can you keep to the point, please?

KEEP TO also means to do what you have promised or planned to do.

I think we should keep to our original plan.

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.

KEEP UP WITH means to stay up to date.

It's hard to keep up with all the latest improvements and breakthroughs in technology nowadays.

The English language has a few words that appear so similar that it's hard to tell the difference.

In this part of our lesson, we will cover some of them.

poor – weak – low

Poor means

1. having little money and/or few possessions – бедный.

Most of the world's poorest countries are in Africa.

2. not good; being of a very low quality, quantity, or standard – плохой, слабый, скудный.

Last year's exam results were fairly poor.

I was always very poor at maths at school.

Dad had been in poor health for several years.

Weak means either not physically strong or not strong in character – слабый, безвольный, непрочный.

How do you like your tea - strong or weak?

He's still feeling a bit weak after his operation.

The team has a strong attack, but its defence is weak.

Low is below the usual level – низкий, невысокий.

Temperatures are very low for the time of year.

The big supermarket offers the lowest prices in town.

harm – damage – ruin

Harm means to hurt someone or damage something – причинять вред, ущерб.

Smoking can cause serious harm to the lungs.

Thankfully no one was harmed in the accident.

Damage is to harm or break something –  повреждать.

Many buildings were damaged in the storm.

Ruin means to spoil or destroy something – портить, разрушать, разорять.

They were late and the dinner was ruined.

customs – habits – manners

Custom is a habit or tradition – обычай.

In my country, it's the custom (for women) to get married in white.

Habit is something that you do regularly, almost without thinking about it – привычка.

We have a habit of getting up late on Saturday mornings.

Manner is

1. the way in which a person talks and behaves with other people – манера, поведение.

She has a somewhat cold, unfriendly manner.

2. the way something happens or something is done – метод, способ.

They dealt with the problem in a very efficient manner.

lead – pass – spend

Lead means to show someone where to go, usually by taking them to a place or by going in front of them – вести, показывать путь.

We followed a path that led us up the mountain.

You lead and we'll follow.

Pass means

1. to go past something or someone – проходить, проезжать мимо.

She passed me this morning in the corridor.

2. to give something to someone – передавать.

Could you pass the salt, please?

3. to succeed at a test or an exam –  выдержать (экзамен).

I passed my driving test the first time.

Spend is

1. to use money to buy or pay for something – тратить (деньги).

She spends too much money on clothes.

2. to use time doing something or being somewhere – проводить (время).

How long did you spend in Edinburgh?

That`s all for today.

If you are interested in improving your vocabulary, you should keep this lesson in mind. Join us at our lessons at videouroki.net.