Meaning
focus effort on; try to improve; spend time fixing
Primary Function
Expressing sustained effort toward improvement
Communicative Purpose
describing projects, self-improvement, repairs
Pattern
work on
Core Structure
work on
Função primária
Expressing sustained effort toward improvement
Propósito comunicativo
describing projects, self-improvement, repairs
Situações de gatilho
work tasks, relationships, skill development, therapy sessions
Contextos
everyday conversation, professional settings, academic writing
Padrão
work on
Estrutura central
work on
Slots de substituição
my thesis; improving my patience; the car repair
Colocados típicos
- currently working on
- still trying to complete
- actively developing
Substituições comuns
- improve (vs. work out)
- develop
- refine
Erros comuns
confusing with ‘work out’ – which means exercise or solve a problem mathematically rather than focusing effort on something else
Similar / contraste
work out (calculate/exercise), work at (persistently try)
Interferências
'Work on' requires sustained, directed effort over time and is not an instant solution verb.
Família do chunk
- works-on (none)
Nuance
implies progress through consistent activity; conveys diligence and commitment rather than immediate outcome.
Efeito pragmático
encouraging tone that signals dedication to improvement or completion of a task.
Dica de memória
“I’m working on fixing the bug.”
Nota
This chunk is a prepositional verb that emphasizes the process of directed effort and improvement over time.
Upgrade path
work on your weaknesses
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