What Does โKeep sb outโ Mean?
โKeep sb outโ means to prevent someone from entering a place or becoming involved in something.
Introduction
The phrase โkeep sb outโ is a common phrasal verb used in everyday English. It is often used when talking about blocking or stopping someone from entering a place, group, or situation. Understanding the โkeep sb out meaningโ helps learners communicate clearly, especially when discussing security, privacy, or exclusion. This phrase is versatile and appears in many contexts, from physical barriers to emotional or social boundaries.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: keep somebody out
- Type: transitive
- Level: A2โB1
- Short meaning: to prevent someone from entering or joining
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โKeep sb outโ is a transitive and separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (sb) between โkeepโ and โoutโ or after the entire phrase.
- Keep someone out
- Keep out someone (less common but possible)
Example patterns:
- Keep + somebody + out (e.g., They keep strangers out.)
- Keep + out + somebody (e.g., They keep out strangers.)
How to Use โKeep sb outโ?
Use โkeep sb outโ when you want to talk about stopping someone from entering a place or being part of something. It is often used in contexts about security, privacy, or exclusion. The phrase can refer to physical spaces like houses or rooms, or more abstract concepts like groups or conversations.
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using โkeep sb out in a sentenceโ:
- They installed a fence to keep strangers out of their garden.
- The security guard keeps unwanted visitors out of the building.
- She tries to keep her emotions out of the discussion.
- The club keeps out people who donโt follow the rules.
- We need to keep the kids out of the construction zone for safety.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the position of the object or use incorrect prepositions. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: Keep out the people.
- Correct: Keep the people out.
- Incorrect: Keep out from the room.
- Correct: Keep out of the room. (Note: โKeep sb outโ does not use โfromโ after it.)
Remember, โkeep sb outโ is better with a direct object between or after the verb and particle.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include โlock out,โ โshut out,โ and โbar from.โ While all suggest preventing entry, โkeep sb outโ is more general and can apply to people and abstract ideas. โLock outโ emphasizes locking or physical barriers. โShut outโ often implies exclusion from opportunities or participation, and โbar fromโ is more formal and legal.
Common Collocations
Here are some common words used with โkeep sb outโ and their meanings:
- Keep burglars out: prevent thieves from entering
- Keep children out: prevent kids from entering a dangerous place
- Keep strangers out: stop unknown people from entering
- Keep competitors out: prevent rivals from joining or accessing
- Keep emotions out: avoid letting feelings influence a situation
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of keep sb out:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using โkeep sb outโ:
Anna: Did you lock the front door?
Ben: Yes, I want to keep burglars out while weโre away.
Anna: Good idea. We donโt want any unwanted guests.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- A) They keep out the visitors during the meeting.
- B) They keep the visitors out during the meeting.
- C) They keep out from the visitors during the meeting.
Answer: B) They keep the visitors out during the meeting.
FAQs
- Q: Can โkeep sb outโ be used for abstract ideas?
A: Yes, you can keep emotions or thoughts out of a situation. - Q: Is โkeep sb outโ formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. - Q: Can I say โkeep out sbโ?
A: Itโs less common; usually, the object comes between โkeepโ and โout.โ - Q: What is the difference between โkeep sb outโ and โlock sb outโ?
A: โLock sb outโ emphasizes locking a door or barrier, while โkeep sb outโ is more general. - Q: Can โkeep sb outโ be used in past tense?
A: Yes, for example, โThey kept the kids out of the room.โ
