The verb to keep · Conjugation
Past Simple of keep
The answer: kept
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to keep is kept.
Example: She kept the letter for years.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | kept |
| You | kept |
| He / She / It | kept |
| We | kept |
| You (pl.) | kept |
| They | kept |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Keeped ❌
Keep is irregular. Its Past Simple is kept, never keeped.
2. He kept to smile ❌
Keep + -ing means to continue: He kept smiling. Keep working means continue working. Keep + to + verb is wrong here.
3. Kept = Past Simple AND past participle
Like have → had → had, the Past Simple and the past participle are the same: kept. She kept the letter. She has kept the letter.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of keep?+
The Past Simple of keep is kept, the same for every person. The past participle is kept too (the same as the Past Simple).
How do you use kept in a sentence?+
Kept + a thing means you didn't give it away: He kept the secret. Kept + -ing means he continued: He kept smiling.
What does keep + -ing mean?+
Keep + -ing means to continue doing something. Keep going! means don't stop! She kept talking means she didn't stop talking.
Is it didn't keep or didn't kept?+
Say didn't keep: I didn't keep my promise. After didn't, use the base form → keep.
Is it kept or keeped?+
Always kept. Keep is irregular, like sleep → slept and feel → felt. Its Past Simple is kept, never keeped.
Related pages: keep Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/keep/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to keep are coming soon.