did you keep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "did you keep" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when inquiring whether someone has retained or maintained something over a period of time. Example: "Did you keep the receipt from our last purchase?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

How did you keep warm?

The New York Times

"Why did you keep playing?

The New York Times - Books

"Did you keep the drunks?" I ask.

The New Yorker

Why did you keep it secret?

The New York Times

Why did you keep asking me questions?

The New Yorker

How did you keep it under wraps?

The New York Times - Magazine

Why did you keep those tapes?

The New York Times - Arts

"Did you keep the boyfriend?" I asked.

The New York Times - Magazine

How did you keep the show fresh?

The New York Times - Arts

And Doug, how did you keep the story straight?

The New Yorker

"How long did you keep her there?" I ask.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "did you keep", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being retained or maintained. Specify the object or concept to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

A common mistake is omitting the object of "keep", leading to confusion. Always specify what was kept. For example, instead of "Did you keep?", use "Did you keep the receipt?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did you keep" functions as an interrogative structure used to inquire whether someone retained possession of something or maintained a certain state. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, and the examples illustrate its versatility in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "did you keep" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for inquiring about the retention or maintenance of something. As Ludwig's examples show, it appears across numerous contexts, particularly in news and media. To ensure clarity, always specify what was kept. Though versatile, it avoids overly formal or informal registers, fitting seamlessly into many communication scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were you keeping

This is the past continuous tense, which focuses on the action of keeping over a period of time.

did you retain

Focuses on the act of holding onto something, often in a more formal context.

did you continue to keep

Emphasizes the continuity of keeping something over a period of time.

did you hold onto

Emphasizes the physical act of keeping something secure.

did you save

Suggests preserving something for future use or to prevent it from being lost.

did you maintain

Highlights the effort required to keep something in a particular condition.

did you preserve

Implies protecting something from decay or damage.

did you have

A simpler phrasing that focuses on possession rather than active retention.

did you possess

A more formal way to ask if someone had something.

did you store

Implies putting something away for safekeeping or future use.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "did you keep" to sound more formal?

You can use alternatives like "did you retain" or "did you preserve" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "did you keep" and "were you keeping"?

"Did you keep" inquires about a completed action of retaining something, while "were you keeping" focuses on the ongoing process of keeping something over a period of time.

Is it correct to say "did you kept" instead of "did you keep"?

No, "did you kept" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "did you keep", as "did" already indicates past tense.

How to use "did you keep" in a sentence?

You can use "did you keep" to ask if someone retained something, like "Did you keep the old photos?" or if someone maintained something, like "How "did you keep" the secret for so long?".