Keep and put are verbs of everyday use. There are several instances where keep and put can be used invariably in sentences or regular speaking. For example, keep the keys on the table or put the keys on the table. However, in most cases, keep and put have different applications.
Keep vs Put
The main difference between keep and put is that keep is used in sentences that denote long term and customary actions. For example, keep the fruits in the basket denotes long term action since the fruits will be kept in the basket for some time. Another example is keep the books on the study table, which denotes a customary action or a habit. Here, keep In contrast, put is used in sentences that denote short term non-customary actions. Consider, for example, the sentence : put the books away or where did you put my spectacles ? Both these sentences denote actions that are non-customary i.e. not a habit.
Keep has a use in sentences to give instructions. For instance, Keep your books away from the child. In addition, keep is more or less similar to store or place. We keep the dairy products in the refrigerator. In contrast, we keep the books on the study table.
Put means to move something or someone in a particular position, place or direction. For example, put the keys on the kitchen drawer or put your hands over your head. The past and future tenses of put are put. It is more or less similar to lay, place, or set. For example, put the money in the drawer.
Comparison Table Between Keep and Put
| Parameters of Comparison | Keep | Put |
| Definition | Keep means to store something or have something in your possession. | Put means to move something or someone in a particular position, place, or direction. |
| Duration of use | Keep has a practical application for long term and customary actions. | Put has a practical application for short term and non-customary actions. |
| Past and Future Tense | The present and future tense of keep is kept. | The present and future tense of put is put. |
| Alternate Uses | Keep may be used in instruction sentences or to indicate how something should be done. | Put may be used to initiate something or express something in words. |
| Examples | Keep the books in the drawer. Raghav keeps fresh fruits in the refrigerator. | Put your words into action.Put the cupboard keys on the table. |
What is Keep?
According to the Cambridge dictionary, keep means to have or continue to have in your possession. For example, Do you want this book or can I keep it?. Keep the apples and oranges in the fruit basket. Another meaning of keep is to manage or own a small shop. For example, My father kept a small tobacconist’s in New York.
Keep is more or less similar to store or place. We keep the dairy products in the refrigerator. In contrast, we keep the books on the study table. Keep hints to a long term or customary action. For example, the dairy products will be in the refrigerator for some time. On the other hand, to keep books on the study table is a customary action since it indicates a habit.
The past and future tense of the word keep is kept. When we use to keep as a verb, it requires an object. For instance, You may keep the extra food. Raghav keeps clothes in the closet. In addition, keep can have a practical application to indicate how a task shall be done. For example, You should keep your mouth shut in class or Learn to keep your anger in control.
Keep can have an application in giving instructions. For instance, Keep your books away from the child or Keep away from the Thompsons because they are not friendly. Moreover, the word keep may show persistence. For example, My child keeps playing with the curtains all the time. Richa’s mother keeps nagging her to get a job.
What is Put?
According to the Cambridge dictionary, put means to move something or someone in a particular position, place, or direction. For example, Put the clothes in the laundry basket or Ramesh puts his hands on his ears to not hear the loud noises. Put also means to write something. For instance, Raven told me to put my objections on a piece of paper or I put my address in all the asked columns.
Put may also have a practical application to express something in words. She puts her thoughts in front of the audience boldly or everyone has a chance to put their viewpoints in a debate. Another application of put is to describe someone or something in comparison to similar things or ideas. For example, I’d put him among the top ten top scorers of our class.
Put is used for short term non-customary actions. For instance, put the books away or where did you put my glasses ? Both these actions are non-customary. In addition, the past and future tense of put is put. It is more or less similar to lay, place, or set. For example, put the money in the drawer, or put your hands over your head.
Put also me to initiate something. For instance, the teacher puts a lot of emphasis on the need to attend classes regularly or Adam is putting pressure on me to change my career choice. Thus, in conclusion, put has a wide variety of uses that differ immensely from the uses of keep.
Main Differences Between Keep and Put
- Keep means to store something or have something in your possession. In contrast, put translates to move something or someone in a particular position, place, or direction.
- While the present and future tense of the keep are kept, the present and future tense of put are put.
- Keep has a practical application for long term and customary actions. On the other hand, put has a practical application for a short period and non-customary tasks.
- Keep may be used in instruction sentences or to indicate how a particular task shall be done. In contrast, put may be used to initiate something or express something in words.
- Examples of keep in sentences are: My father kept a small tobacconist’s in New York. Keep your books away from the child. An example of using put is put the money in the drawer. Put your hands over your head.
Conclusion
The difference in the meaning, alternate uses, past and future tense of keep and put summarise that the two are considerably different. While the present and future tense of keep are kept, the present and future tense of put are put. Keep can have a practical application to indicate how a certain thing should be done.
Keep is more or less similar to store or place. In contrast, put means to move something or someone in a particular position, or direction. Keep may be used in instruction sentences. On the other hand, put may be used to initiate something or express something in words. Conclusively, keep and put are verbs with varying uses.
References
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bert-Cappelle/publication/251937095_Keep_and_keep_on_compared/links/555c4fa708ae6aea081738c6/Keep-and-keep-on-compared.pdf
- http://wwwling.arts.kuleuven.be/nrg4/_pdf/pardeshi.pdf