How to Use 'Keep Tabs On' in English: Phrases for Monitoring and Tracking


Introduction 👀

Have you ever heard the phrase “keep tabs on” and wondered what it means? This common English idiom is used when talking about monitoring or tracking something or someone. Let’s explore this phrase and other related expressions to help you sound more natural in English!

Basic Expressions 📋

Expressions About Monitoring

  • keep tabs on
  • keep an eye on
  • keep track of
  • monitor
  • observe
  • follow
  • Watch
  • Supervise
  • Oversee
  • Survey
  • Check up on
  • Stay informed about

Useful Expressions and Examples 🔍

When Talking About Monitoring

Example 1: “I need to keep tabs on my budget this month.”

“The manager likes to keep an eye on new employees.”

When Talking About Tracking

Example 2: “It’s important to keep track of your daily expenses.”

“The scientist is monitoring the experiment closely.”

When Talking About Supervision

Example 3: “Parents often keep tabs on their children’s online activities.”

“The teacher needs to keep an eye on the students during the exam.”

Conversation Examples 🗣️

Conversation at Work

A: “How’s the new project coming along?”

B: “Pretty well. I’m keeping tabs on the team’s progress daily.”

A: “That’s great. It’s important to stay on top of things.”

B: “Absolutely. I like to keep track of every detail.”

Friendly Conversation

A: “Have you heard from Sarah lately?”

B: “Not really, but I’ve been keeping an eye on her social media.”

A: “Oh, that’s a good way to stay updated!”

B: “Yeah, it helps me keep tabs on what’s happening in her life.”

Grammar Points 📝

Using “Keep Tabs On”

  1. Subject + keep tabs on + object Example: “I keep tabs on my expenses.”

  2. Keep tabs on + gerund (-ing form) Example: “She keeps tabs on eating healthy foods.”

  3. Keep + adjective + tabs on Example: “We need to keep close tabs on the situation.”

Common Mistakes ❌

Incorrect: “I keep tabs about my studies.” Correct: “I keep tabs on my studies.”

Incorrect: “They are keeping tabs to the project.” Correct: “They are keeping tabs on the project.”

Situational Phrases 🎯

Describing Monitoring Activities

  • “I’m keeping a close eye on the situation.”
  • “We need to monitor this carefully.”
  • “Let’s keep track of our progress.”

Expressing Continuous Observation

  • “I’ve been keeping tabs on the market trends.”
  • “She always keeps an eye out for new opportunities.”
  • “They’re constantly monitoring the system for any issues.”

Synonymous Expressions 🌟

Other Ways to Say “Keep Tabs On”

  • “Stay on top of”
  • “Keep abreast of”
  • “Keep up with”
  • “Stay in the loop about”
  • “Keep a watchful eye on”

Idioms 🎭

  • “Be on the ball”
  • “Have your finger on the pulse”
  • “Keep your ear to the ground”

Explaining Usage 🌏

Example: “In English, we often use ‘keep tabs on’ when we want to talk about monitoring something regularly.”

“While ‘keep tabs on’ can sound a bit informal, ‘monitor’ or ‘track’ are more neutral alternatives.”

Summary 📊

There are many ways to express monitoring and tracking in English. Learn to choose appropriate expressions based on the formality of the situation!

Key Points to Remember

  1. Master basic monitoring-related vocabulary
  2. Use “keep tabs on” for informal situations
  3. Choose more formal alternatives like “monitor” in professional settings

When discussing monitoring in English, it’s important to consider the context and choose appropriate expressions. Use these phrases to talk about how you keep track of things in your daily life!




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