Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Understanding 'Keep Up': Definition, Usage, Mistakes

📖 Definition

To 'keep up' means to stay at the same level or pace as someone or something else, often to not fall behind in progress or developments.

Examples in context

John struggled to keep up with the marathon runners as they increased their speed.
Samantha read every new article to keep up with scientific developments.
In today's fast-paced world, it's crucial to keep up with technological changes.

📖 Definition

To 'keep up' means to stay at the same level or pace as someone or something else, often to not fall behind in progress or developments.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

The verb and particle cannot be separated.

Neutral

Suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Transitive

Does not require a direct object.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	keep up	She strives to keep up with her studies.
Past Simple	kept up	He kept up with the team's pace.
Present Continuous	keeping up	They are keeping up with the new trends.
Present Perfect	have kept up	I have kept up with my exercise routine.

💡 When to Use

following a fast-paced schedule

Use when you need to match the speed or progress of ongoing tasks or deadlines.

Example: "He needs to keep up with his work assignments."

matching technological advancements

Refer to maintaining current knowledge of rapidly changing technology to avoid becoming obsolete.

Example: "She keeps up with the latest software updates."

maintaining competitive performance

Apply when striving to stay competitive in sports, academics, or business.

Example: "They must keep up with the competition to succeed."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

incorrect separable use

❌ Wrong: Keep the pace up with the team.

✅ Correct: Keep up with the team's pace.

💡 Tip: Remember 'keep' and 'up' stay together.

incorrect object placement

❌ Wrong: She keeps the trends up.

✅ Correct: She keeps up with the trends.

💡 Tip: Always keep 'up' directly after 'keep'.

misusing as transitive

❌ Wrong: You must keep up the race.

✅ Correct: You must keep up with the race.

💡 Tip: Don’t use 'keep up' with a direct object.

Practice

KEEP UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

John struggled to keep up with the marathon runners as they increased their speed.
How National Parks Came to Be
2
Listen to example

Samantha read every new article to keep up with scientific developments.
How to Become a Hiker
3
Listen to example

In today's fast-paced world, it's crucial to keep up with technological changes.
Bringing Animals Back to Life

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

stay abreast catch up

Antonyms

fall behind

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"To succeed in this fast-paced industry, you must ___ with the latest trends."

kept break

keep up

keep off

keep down

"To keep up with the pace of life is to dance with time, balancing the past, present, and future harmoniously."

In Context

In the early 20th century, Amelia Earhart stood as a beacon for women aspiring to break through male-dominated fields. Born in 1897 in Atchison, Kansas, she developed a passion for aviation at a time when it was largely inaccessible to women. Despite societal constraints, she was determined to keep up with her male counterparts. In 1928, Earhart achieved fame as the first woman to fly across the Atlantic as part of a transatlantic team. By 1932, she kept up her momentum, this time flying solo across the Atlantic, battling fierce winds and mechanical issues. Her tale of perseverance didn’t end there. She set her eyes on circumnavigating the globe, determined to keep up with the evolving world of aviation. Tragically, during this ambitious endeavor, Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappeared over the Pacific Ocean on July 2, 1937. Despite an extensive search operation, they were never found. Earhart's legacy continued to inspire future generations, reminding them to keep up with their dreams despite daunting odds. Her life taught many that keeping up is not just about maintaining pace but continually pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Keep Up

What is the origin of keep up?

The phrase 'keep up' has been in use since the early 1600s, rooted in the literal sense of not letting something fall. Over time, it evolved to convey maintaining pace or progress within competitive or rapidly changing contexts.

Can keep up be used in formal and informal contexts?

'Keep up' is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. In formal settings, it might refer to keeping up with professional standards. Informally, it can describe maintaining pace in everyday life.

What is the difference between keep up and stay abreast?

While both mean maintaining current knowledge or pace, 'keep up' implies active effort to match ongoing developments, whereas 'stay abreast' often suggests simply being aware without necessarily implying effort or difficulty in doing so.

Browse All National Parks Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey

📖 Definition

📖 Definition

📝 Grammar Info

📊 Conjugation Table

💡 When to Use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

KEEP UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

In Context

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Keep Up

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega