kept
/kept/ (bre, ipa) · /kept/ (ame, ipa)
kept — verb
- keptpresent simple I / you / we / they
- kepts3rd person singular
- kepting-ing form
- keptedpast simple
1. the form of the verb 'keep' that shows something happened in the past.
the form of the verb 'keep' that shows something happened in the past.
Élise kept a photo of her family on her desk at work.
kept + noun phrase (simple past)
The children kept very still while their mother took the picture.
kept + adjective complement
Walid has kept every birthday card he has ever received.
The documents were kept in a locked cabinet at the office.
Femi kept his voice low so nobody else could hear what he said.
- maintained
more formal; focuses on preserving a condition or standard rather than simply continuing an action
- held
suggests physical possession or control but does not imply ongoing care or continuation
- stored
specifically about putting something away safely for future use, narrower than 'kept'
文法句型
kept + noun phrase
kept + adjective
kept + verb-ing
had/have + kept + past participle form in perfect tenses
be + kept + past participle in passive voice
用法筆記
Frequently used in both simple past and past participle constructions. As a past participle, it appears with 'have', 'has', or 'had' to form perfect tenses, and with 'be' to form passive structures. The adjective complement pattern ('kept + adjective') is very common.
常見錯誤
kept — adjective
- keptpositive
- keptercomparative
- keptestsuperlative
1. describes a person whose romantic partner pays for their housing, food, and othe
describes a person whose romantic partner pays for their housing, food, and other living costs, often because the person does not have their own job — typically used in a disapproving or judgmental way about the arrangement.
The gossip magazine called her a kept woman, though she had built her own career.
attributive: kept + woman
In the film, Gabriel plays a kept man who depends on his wealthy partner.
attributive: kept + man
Amani refused to be a kept partner and insisted on splitting the rent every month.
A novel tells about a kept lover who leaves the arrangement for a new life.
- dependent
broader meaning — can describe anyone who relies on someone else for support, not limited to romantic relationships
- supported
neutral and factual; does not carry the judgmental or sexual connotation of 'kept'
- maintained
formal and somewhat dated when applied to people; now more common for objects or systems
- independent
self-sufficient, especially financially; the direct opposite of being financially dependent on a partner
文法句型
kept + noun (woman, man, lover, partner)
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun ('kept woman', 'kept man', 'kept lover'). Carries a negative or old-fashioned judgment and can be offensive. In modern usage, it is often replaced by more neutral descriptions of financial dependence in a relationship.