SpeakUp

Grammar fix

keep an eye on

watch carefully

to watch someone or something closely, usually to make sure they are safe or nothing goes wrong.

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • Can you keep an eye on my bag while I go to the restroom?daily life
  • During my part-time job at the library, I had to keep an eye on the reading room to make sure everyone followed the rules.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: keep an eye on + noun/pronoun

WrongCan you keep an eye to the bags?

RightCan you keep an eye on the bags?

It's 'keep an eye ON something', not 'to'.

Patternkeep an eye on + noun/pronoun

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff Please maintain visual supervision of the children.

Natural Can you keep an eye on the kids?

'Keep an eye on' is the everyday phrase; 'maintain visual supervision' is robotic.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • keep an eye on
    onthe kidsthingsyour bag

Don't confuse it

Different from 'look at,' which just means to see something. 'Keep an eye on' means to watch carefully, often for a reason.

Try it in Daily Speak →