🎙Mistake Break Podcast - Episode 9

The link to the videocast & podcast channel on telegram: https://t.me/englishwithmo7ammad

TRANCRIPT: 

Welcome back to Mistake Break, and let’s get to work 

You’ve heard it a lot: "My brother works in a large insurance company." While this isn't completely wrong, when talking about your employer the preposition is for. So, the better sentence is: "My brother works for a large insurance company." This shows who employs him.

Here’s another example:  "I'd like to work for an international organization."

Let’s have a listen to another common error with work: "I got up and got ready to go to my work."

The mistake here is "my work." and the correct phrase is simply go to work. We don't use words like 'my work/your work'. So, it should be: "I got up and got ready to go to work."

Finally, and this is a very important one:

Listen to this sentence: "Without a full-time work, some people think they can’t succeed."

The error is "a work." The word work is generally an uncountable noun, like advice (which we talked about in episode 4). 

So, there are two ways to correct that sentence:

• Number 1 is: Use the word "job." "Without a full-time job, some people feel they can’t succeed."

• Number 2: Use "work" without the article "a." "Without full-time work, some people feel they can’t succeed."

So, let's recap the three main points for today:

1. You usually work for a company or someone.

2. The standard phrase is go to work, not "go to your work."

3. Use Work without ‘a’ or go for the other option, the word job.

Now you need to work on it, check my blog for the worksheet and extra phrases! 

Stay tuned, for another Mistake Break!

“Work” vs. “Job” – Exercises

✅ Exercise 1: Spot the Difference

(Focus: “work for” vs. “work in”)
Instructions: Choose the correct version of each sentence and explain the error in the incorrect one.

1. 
   

a) My cousin works in a French fashion brand.
b) My cousin works for a French fashion brand.

2. 
   

a) I’ve always wanted to work for the United Nations.
b) I’ve always wanted to work in the United Nations.

3. 
   

a) She works in Microsoft.
b) She works for Microsoft.

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Answers & Feedback:

1. ✅ b) My cousin works for a French fashion brand.
   ❌ a) is common but slightly unnatural when talking about your employer.
   📝 Feedback: Use “work for” to show who employs you.
   Example: I work for a local media company.
   
   

2. ✅ a) I’ve always wanted to work for the United Nations.
   ❌ b) "Work in the United Nations" refers to location, not employment.
   📝 Feedback: When you mean employment, use "work for".
   Example: He works for a hospital, not in one.
   
   

3. ✅ b) She works for Microsoft.
   ❌ a) "In Microsoft" suggests a place, not the employer.
   📝 Feedback: Use “for” with company names.
   Example: He works for Google.
   
   

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✅ Exercise 2: Guided Practice – Sentence Surgeon

(Focus: choosing between “work” and “job,” and noun vs. verb roles)
Instructions: Complete each sentence with either work or job in the correct form.

1. After university, she finally found a full-time _______ in banking.
   
   

2. I go to _______ at 8 a.m. every day, even on weekends.
   
   

3. This isn't just a _______; it's my passion.
   
   

4. He lost his _______ last month and is looking for new _______ now.
   
   

---

Answers & Feedback:

1. ✅ job
   📝 Feedback: "Job" is a countable noun – specific positions.
   Example: He got a job as a teacher.
   
   

2. ✅ work
   📝 Feedback: “Go to work” is the fixed expression – no "my/your."
   Example: She left early to go to work.
   
   

3. ✅ job
   📝 Feedback: "Job" is better here for something specific and personal.
   Example: My job is very rewarding.
   
   

4. ✅ job / work
   📝 Feedback: The first is a specific position, the second is general.
   Example: He found work in construction.
   
   

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✅ Exercise 3: Podcast Script Lexical Gaps

(Focus: prepositions, collocations from the podcast)
Instructions: Fill in the blanks using words or phrases from the episode. Be careful with prepositions and common collocations.

1. My aunt works _______ a bank in the city center.
   
   

2. I got up and got ready to go _______ work.
   
   

3. Without _______-time ________, many people feel they can’t succeed.
   
   

4. He wants to work _______ a non-profit organization.
   
   

5. I didn’t say “my work” – the natural phrase is just “go to _______.”
   
   

---

Answers & Feedback:

1. ✅ for
   📝 Feedback: “Work for” is used for employers.
   Example: I work for a private school.
   
   

2. ✅ to
   📝 Feedback: “Go to work” is the correct phrase – not “my work.”
   Example: She went to work after breakfast.
   
   

3. ✅ full / work
   📝 Feedback: “Full-time work” is uncountable.
   Example: Many people want full-time work for stability.
   
   

4. ✅ for
   📝 Feedback: “Work for” an organization – not “in.”
   Example: He worked for a refugee charity.
   
   

✅ work
📝 Feedback: Avoid saying “my work” in this expression.
Example: I leave at 7 to go to work.

Extra phrases with work:

• get to work = start working

• work on something = try to improve or complete something

• working on it = in the middle of doing something

• full-/part-time work = jobs that are either all day or only a few hours a day

🎭 Short Dialogue:

Amin: Hey, aren’t you late?
Sara: Yeah, I need to get to work now or my boss will be mad.
Amin: What are you working on today?
Sara: I'm working on a report about sales numbers.
Amin: Is it hard?
Sara: A bit, but I’m working on it.
Amin: I’m still looking for part-time work. Full-time is too much right now.