Keep sb at sth Meaning / Examples / How to Use

What Does “Keep sb at sth” Mean?

“Keep sb at sth” means to maintain someone’s position, level, or status in a particular state or activity. It often refers to preventing someone from moving beyond a certain point or level.

Introduction

The phrase “Keep sb at sth” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe the act of maintaining or holding someone at a specific point, level, or condition. The “sb” stands for somebody, and “sth” stands for something, which could be a place, level, or situation. Understanding the Keep sb at sth meaning can help learners express situations where someone is prevented from advancing or changing their position. This expression is useful in various contexts, from sports and work to social situations. For example, you might say, “The coach kept the player at the bench,” meaning the player was not allowed to leave the bench or join the game. This phrase helps describe control or limitation clearly and naturally.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Keep somebody at something
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2
• Short meaning: To maintain someone at a certain level, position, or state

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Keep sb at sth” is a transitive phrasal verb and is inseparable. This means you cannot separate the verb and the preposition with the object.

Patterns:

• Keep + somebody + at + something
• Example: The teacher keeps the students at a high standard.

Note: “sb” refers to a person, and “sth” refers to a place, level, or condition.

How to Use “Keep sb at sth”?

You use “Keep sb at sth” when you want to express that someone is being held at a particular place, level, or condition, often implying control or limitation. It is commonly used in professional, educational, and casual contexts.

For example:

• To describe keeping someone physically in a place: “They kept the guards at the gate.”
• To talk about maintaining a certain level or status: “The company keeps its employees at competitive salaries.”
• To express limiting someone’s progress: “The manager kept her at the junior level for two years.”

Examples

Imagine a coach managing a sports team. They might want to keep a player at a certain skill level before promoting them to a higher division.

• The coach kept the new player at the beginner level until they improved.
• Our teacher keeps us at a challenging pace to help us learn faster.
• The company keeps employees at their current positions during the reorganization.
• She was kept at the waiting area until her appointment time.
• Keep sb at sth in a sentence: “The supervisor kept the interns at simple tasks to build their confidence.”

Common Mistakes

People sometimes confuse the phrase or use it incorrectly by separating the verb and preposition or using wrong prepositions.

• Incorrect: “Keep the player on the beginner level.”
• Correct: “Keep the player at the beginner level.”
• Incorrect: “She keeps them in the same level.”
• Correct: “She keeps them at the same level.”

Remember, use “at” after “keep sb” to indicate the position or level.

Differences / Synonyms

Other phrasal verbs or expressions may seem similar but have different meanings. For example, “keep sb in” means to confine someone indoors, while “keep sb at sth” focuses on maintaining a level or position.

Synonyms include:

• Hold sb at sth: Similar meaning but can sound more formal.
• Keep sb on sth: More often used for jobs or tasks, e.g., “keep sb on the project.”
• Keep sb from sth: Means to prevent someone from doing something, different from maintaining position.

Understanding these differences helps you use “Keep sb at sth” accurately.

Common Collocations

“Keep sb at sth” often pairs with words related to levels, places, or conditions. Here are some common collocations:

• Keep sb at bay: To keep someone at a distance or away.
• Keep sb at a level: Maintain someone’s position in skill or status.
• Keep sb at work: Make someone continue working.
• Keep sb at the door: Stop someone from entering.
• Keep sb at a distance: Maintain a physical or emotional gap.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of keep sb at sth:

• Keep Sth To Yourself
• Keep Sth Out
• Keep Sb Back
• Keep Sb Off Sth
• Keep Up With Sth

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a simple conversation using “Keep sb at sth”:

Anna: Why isn’t John promoted yet?

Mark: The manager wants to keep him at the junior level until he finishes his training.

Anna: That makes sense. It’s important to keep him at a suitable level before giving more responsibility.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences below by choosing the correct phrase:

• The teacher decided to ______ the students at a high standard to challenge them.
• The company keeps employees ______ competitive salaries to retain talent.
• She was kept ______ the waiting room until the doctor was ready.
• The coach keeps the players ______ their positions during the game.

Answers:

1. keep
2. at
3. at
4. at

FAQs

• What does “keep sb at sth” mean? It means to maintain someone at a certain level, place, or condition.
• Is “keep sb at sth” separable? No, it is inseparable. You cannot place the object between “keep” and “at.”
• Can “keep sb at sth” be used in formal writing? Yes, it is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts.
• What preposition follows “keep sb” in this phrase? The preposition “at” always follows in this expression.
• Is “keep sb at sth” the same as “keep sb in sth”? No, “keep sb in sth” usually means to confine someone inside, while “keep sb at sth” means to maintain a level or position.