What Does โKeep sth out of sthโ Mean?
โKeep sth out of sthโ means to prevent something from entering or being involved in another thing or place.
Introduction
The phrase โKeep sth out of sthโ is a common English phrasal verb used to describe the action of stopping something from getting into somewhere or becoming part of something. Understanding the Keep sth out of sth meaning helps learners express ideas about protection, avoidance, or separation in everyday situations. For example, you might want to keep dirt out of your house or keep emotions out of a business meeting. This phrase is useful because it can be applied in many contexts, both physical and abstract. Learning how to use it correctly will improve your speaking and writing skills.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Keep something out of something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: A2โB2
- Short meaning: To prevent something from entering or being involved in another thing
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โKeep sth out of sthโ is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object (something) between โkeepโ and โout,โ or after โout of.โ
- Keep + object + out of + object (e.g., Keep dirt out of the house.)
- Keep + out of + object + object (less common, but possible for emphasis)
The verb โkeepโ is followed by the object that you want to prevent from entering or joining something else.
How to Use โKeep sth out of sthโ?
Use โkeep sth out of sthโ when you want to express the idea of preventing something from entering a place, group, or situation. It can be physical (like keeping water out of a bag) or figurative (like keeping personal feelings out of work). The phrase often appears in everyday conversations, instructions, and advice.
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using โKeep sth out of sth in a sentenceโ:
- Please keep the dogs out of the kitchen to maintain cleanliness.
- She tries to keep her personal problems out of her work life.
- Itโs important to keep dust out of the computer to avoid damage.
- We should keep politics out of this discussion to stay focused.
- Can you keep the kids out of the garden while Iโm planting?
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners mix up the word order or use the phrase incorrectly. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: Keep out the dirt of the house.
- Correct: Keep the dirt out of the house.
- Incorrect: Keep out of the water the sand.
- Correct: Keep the sand out of the water.
Remember to place the object that you want to keep out immediately after โkeep.โ
Differences / Synonyms
There are similar phrases like โkeep out,โ โkeep away from,โ and โkeep off,โ but they have different meanings:
- Keep out: Usually means not to enter a place (e.g., โKeep out of the room.โ)
- Keep away from: Means to stay at a distance (e.g., โKeep away from the fire.โ)
- Keep off: Means not to touch or step on something (e.g., โKeep off the grass.โ)
โKeep sth out of sthโ specifically focuses on preventing something from entering or being part of something else.
Common Collocations
Some common objects used with โkeep sth out of sthโ include:
- Keep dust out of โ to prevent dust from entering
- Keep dirt out of โ to stop dirt from getting inside
- Keep water out of โ to avoid water entering
- Keep emotions out of โ to avoid emotional involvement
- Keep children out of โ to prevent children from entering somewhere
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of keep sth out of sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using โkeep sth out of sthโ:
Anna: Can you help me? I want to keep the rain out of the basement.
Tom: Sure! We can seal the windows and put a cover over the door.
Anna: Great! I donโt want any water damage.
Tom: Me neither. Letโs keep the water out of the basement this time.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- a) Keep the mud out of your shoes.
- b) Keep out the mud of your shoes.
- c) Keep mud the out of your shoes.
Answer: a) Keep the mud out of your shoes.
FAQs
- Q: Can โkeep sth out of sthโ be used for emotions?
A: Yes, it can describe avoiding emotional involvement. - Q: Is โkeep sth out of sthโ separable?
A: Yes, the object can come between โkeepโ and โout.โ - Q: Can it be used in formal writing?
A: Yes, especially when describing prevention or exclusion. - Q: What is the difference between โkeep outโ and โkeep sth out of sthโ?
A: โKeep outโ means not to enter, while โkeep sth out of sthโ means preventing something from entering or being involved. - Q: Can I use โkeep sth out of sthโ for abstract ideas?
A: Yes, like keeping stress out of your life.
