Mastering ‘Keep up with’ for IELTS Success: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding ‘Keep up with’: Definition and Explanation

The phrasal verb ‘keep up with’ is an essential expression for IELTS candidates to master. It generally means to maintain the same rate or level as someone or something else, often implying a sense of effort or challenge. This versatile phrase has several nuanced meanings:

1. To move or progress at the same speed as others
2. To stay informed about current events, trends, or developments
3. To maintain contact or a relationship with someone

Synonyms for ‘keep up with’ include ‘stay abreast of’, ‘remain current with’, or ‘stay on par with’. Understanding these variations can help you use the phrase more effectively in different contexts during your IELTS exam.

Contextual Usage of ‘Keep up with’

To fully grasp how to use ‘keep up with’, let’s examine some practical examples:

1. “It’s challenging to keep up with the rapid advancements in technology.”
2. “I struggle to keep up with my colleagues during our morning jog.”
3. “She finds it difficult to keep up with her studies while working part-time.”
4. “Can you keep up with the latest fashion trends?”
5. “It’s important to keep up with old friends, even when life gets busy.”

These examples demonstrate how ‘keep up with’ can be used in various situations, from discussing personal challenges to commenting on societal trends.

Contextual usage of 'Keep up with'

Grammar Analysis of ‘Keep up with’

‘Keep up with’ is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning you cannot place an object between ‘keep’ and ‘up’. The structure typically follows this pattern:

Subject + keep up with + object

For example:

• Correct: “I can’t keep up with the fast pace of the course.”
• Incorrect: “I can’t keep the fast pace of the course up with.”

It’s crucial to remember this structure when using ‘keep up with’ in your IELTS responses, as proper usage demonstrates a higher level of language proficiency.

Applying ‘Keep up with’ in IELTS

Speaking Section

In the IELTS Speaking test, ‘keep up with’ can be effectively used to answer questions about challenges, changes, or comparisons. Here are some example responses:

Question: “How do you stay informed about current events?”
Answer: “I make a conscious effort to keep up with the news by reading online articles and watching international news channels daily. It’s crucial to stay informed in our rapidly changing world.”

Question: “What challenges do students face today?”
Answer: “One major challenge for students today is keeping up with the ever-evolving job market. They need to constantly update their skills to remain competitive.”

Writing Section

For the Writing section, ‘keep up with’ can add sophistication to your essays, particularly when discussing trends, progress, or societal changes. However, be mindful of the formality level required. While ‘keep up with’ is generally acceptable in both Task 1 and Task 2, you might prefer more formal alternatives in highly academic contexts.

Example for Task 2:
“In today’s fast-paced society, many individuals struggle to keep up with the demands of both their professional and personal lives, leading to increased stress levels.”

Related Phrasal Verbs

To expand your vocabulary, here are some phrasal verbs related to ‘keep up with’:

1. Catch up with /kætʃ ʌp wɪð/: To reach the same level or position as someone else.
   Example: “After missing a week of classes, I had to work hard to catch up with my classmates.”

2. Fall behind /fɔːl bɪˈhaɪnd/: To progress more slowly than others; fail to keep up.
   Example: “If you don’t study regularly, you might fall behind in your IELTS preparation.”

3. Get ahead of /ɡet əˈhed əv/: To make more progress than someone or something.
   Example: “To get ahead of the competition, many students start preparing for IELTS months in advance.”

4. Keep pace with /kiːp peɪs wɪð/: To move or develop at the same speed as someone or something else.
   Example: “It’s challenging for educational systems to keep pace with technological advancements.”

5. Stay on top of /steɪ ɒn tɒp əv/: To be aware of the latest information about something.
   Example: “As an IELTS candidate, it’s crucial to stay on top of current affairs for the Speaking and Writing sections.”

Infographic of phrasal verbs related to 'Keep up with'

Practice Exercises

Fill in the Blanks

1. It’s difficult to __ __ __ all the new social media platforms.
2. Can you __ __ __ the instructor’s pace in this aerobics class?
3. She’s always trying to __ __ __ the Joneses by buying expensive things.
4. Many small businesses struggle to __ __ __ larger corporations in terms of technology.
5. You need to __ __ __ your studies if you want to pass the exam.
6. It’s important to __ __ __ industry trends to remain competitive.
7. He couldn’t __ __ __ the fast-paced conversation in English.
8. Parents often find it challenging to __ __ __ their children’s use of technology.
9. The company is investing in new software to __ __ __ customer demands.
10. Students must __ __ __ their assignments to avoid falling behind.

Sentence Transformation

1. Original: The rapid pace of technological change is difficult to match.
   Rewrite: It’s hard to __ __ __ the rapid pace of technological change.

2. Original: She maintains regular contact with her old school friends.
   Rewrite: She __ __ __ her old school friends.

3. Original: Our team is struggling to maintain the same productivity level as our competitors.
   Rewrite: Our team is finding it difficult to __ __ __ our competitors in terms of productivity.

4. Original: He’s always aware of the latest fashion trends.
   Rewrite: He always __ __ __ the latest fashion trends.

5. Original: The small startup is matching the innovation rate of larger tech companies.
   Rewrite: The small startup is managing to __ __ __ larger tech companies in terms of innovation.

6. Original: It’s challenging to remain informed about all the new scientific discoveries.
   Rewrite: It’s challenging to __ __ __ all the new scientific discoveries.

7. Original: The education system is struggling to match the pace of technological advancements.
   Rewrite: The education system is struggling to __ __ __ technological advancements.

8. Original: She’s having trouble maintaining the same academic performance as her classmates.
   Rewrite: She’s having trouble __ __ __ her classmates academically.

9. Original: It’s essential to stay informed about current events for the IELTS exam.
   Rewrite: It’s essential to __ __ __ current events for the IELTS exam.

10. Original: Many adults find it difficult to match the energy levels of young children.
    Rewrite: Many adults find it difficult to __ __ __ young children’s energy levels.

Answers and Explanations

Fill in the Blanks:

1. keep up with
2. keep up with
3. keep up with
4. keep up with
5. keep up with
6. keep up with
7. keep up with
8. keep up with
9. keep up with
10. keep up with

Sentence Transformation:

1. keep up with
2. keeps up with
3. keep up with
4. keeps up with
5. keep up with
6. keep up with
7. keep up with
8. keeping up with
9. keep up with
10. keep up with

Explanation: In all these sentences, ‘keep up with’ is used to express the idea of maintaining the same level, speed, or knowledge as someone or something else. The phrasal verb remains unchanged in its form, with only the tense adjusting according to the context (e.g., ‘keeps’ for third-person singular in the present tense, ‘keeping’ for the -ing form).

Memorization Tips

To effectively remember and use ‘keep up with’, consider the following strategies:

1. Visualization: Imagine yourself running alongside someone, trying to maintain their pace. This mental image can help you remember the core meaning of ‘keep up with’.

2. Contextual association: Link the phrase to common scenarios where you might use it, such as staying informed about news or matching someone’s walking speed.

3. Mnemonic device: Create a memorable phrase like “Keep Up With Important Trends and Happenings” (KUWITH).

4. Regular practice: Incorporate ‘keep up with’ into your daily English usage to reinforce your memory and understanding of the phrase.

5. Personal connection: Think of areas in your life where you need to ‘keep up with’ something or someone, and use these personal examples to remember the phrase.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When using ‘keep up with’, be aware of these common errors:

1. Separating the phrasal verb: Remember, you can’t put an object between ‘keep’ and ‘up’.
   Incorrect: “I can’t keep the news up with.”
   Correct: “I can’t keep up with the news.”

2. Omitting ‘with’: Always include ‘with’ after ‘keep up’.
   Incorrect: “It’s hard to keep up the latest trends.”
   Correct: “It’s hard to keep up with the latest trends.”

3. Using the wrong preposition: Don’t replace ‘with’ with other prepositions like ‘to’ or ‘of’.
   Incorrect: “She keeps up to her studies.”
   Correct: “She keeps up with her studies.”

4. Overusing in formal writing: While ‘keep up with’ is generally acceptable, in very formal academic writing, consider using more formal alternatives like ‘maintain pace with’ or ‘stay abreast of’.

To avoid these mistakes, practice using ‘keep up with’ in various contexts and pay close attention to its structure in native English materials.

Conclusion

Mastering phrasal verbs like ‘keep up with’ can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. This versatile phrase allows you to express ideas about maintaining pace, staying informed, and meeting challenges – all common themes in IELTS tasks. By understanding its various uses, practicing with examples, and avoiding common errors, you can incorporate ‘keep up with’ effectively in your Speaking and Writing responses. Remember, consistent practice and exposure to natural English usage are key to mastering phrasal verbs and improving your overall language proficiency. Keep up the good work, and you’ll see your IELTS scores improve!

For more insights on improving your IELTS performance, check out our guides on other essential phrasal verbs and effective ways to stay fit while preparing for IELTS. These resources will help you keep your chin up throughout your IELTS journey.