English for Geniuses

Vocabulary: How to Use “Work” and “Job”

Work and job are similar concepts in English. We all know that work is the verb, but it can also be a noun! Job is a noun also, referring to something quite similar.

What should we do with this strange dilemma? I hope to clear that up today.

The first thing we should realize is that job usually refers to the position in the company. Work is more the activity.

Lo primero que tenemos que aclarar es que job (normalmente) es el puesto del trabajo. Work es la actividad de trabajar.

I have a job in a clothes shop downtown. I work from Monday to Friday.

She’s looking for a job in a bank. She’s always worked in finance.

A job (normally in singular, because we normally just have one) works very well with verbs like have, get, look for, find.

They found jobs when they arrived in London.

He got his first job when he was 15. 

Work is a bit more complicated because we also use it to talk about the place where you work, and the time that you work (your work day).

I’m going to work. = the place.

He left work and went home. = the place.

Let’s have a drink after work. = the time.

What are you doing after work? = the time.

Job has the additional meaning of a small task (usually paid) that doesn’t turn into a full position with a salary.

I’ve got a job to do this weekend. I’m painting my uncle’s house.

I think I could find a few little jobs for you to do if you need some money.

We also have expressions like: do a good job.

This is a very common expression in American English, and doesn’t necessarily refer to working for a company. It’s usually just doing something well that requires some effort.

They did a really good job making those cookies.

You did an excellent job on that test!

If you don’t have a job, you can say one of these things:

I’m unemployed. = I have no job.

I’m on the dole. = I’m receiving government unemployment benefits.

Unemployment is a big problem right now. = unemployment is the sociological phenomenon of people without jobs.

There are 5 million unemployed people in Spain. = unemployed is the adjective for a person with no job.

Vocabulary: How to use Come and Go

One aspect of English vocabulary that confuses some people is the difference between come and go. The story is a bit longer than you might expect!

In any case, there is a rule that works very well about 90% of the time. Memorize it! The rule is: Come here, go somewhere else.

Of course, the concept of “here” depends on where you are at the time… But let’s say that we’re in Seattle. Imagine than I want to invite my grandmother to come visit me in Seattle (my grandmother lives in Denver.) I can call my grandmother and say, When are you coming to visit me?  I use come because I am in Seattle at the time.

However, when my grandmother is in Denver talking to her friends, she’ll say, I’m going to Seattle next week. She uses “go” because Seattle is somewhere else.

Later, when she’s in Seattle visiting me, she’ll say, I’m glad I came to Seattle. Tomorrow I’m going back to Denver. Being in Seattle changes everything! 

Come back and go back are used in the same way as come and go. Come back here, go back somewhere else.

Let’s say I’m at work. I tell my coworker

“I’m going to have a cup of coffee. I’ll come back in a few minutes and finish this email.”

Go to the coffee shop to get a coffee, come back here to the office.

A few minutes later, I’m in the coffeeshop having my coffee, and I look at my watch and say, I should go back to the office to finish that email.” Go back = go somewhere else.

That’s enough to explain almost any situation with come and go. Just remember the rule: come here, go somewhere else. 

Enjoy!