Work and job

[irmamar]

I'd like to have a guide about the use of work and job. Could someone give me some help? Thanks

Tomísimo or Rusty, please, could you correct my mistake in the tittle? I forgot a 'k'. Thanks.

[EmpanadaRica]

Hmm let' s see (Just my non-native two cents..)

I guess when you are talking about 'work' it tends to be a little more subjective, whereas the job or your job is more concrete?

For instance if you are talking in more general terms I think you' d be more inclined to use 'work' in English for instance:

' What line of work are you in?'.
'I have to go to work tomorrow so I can' t stay too long'.
'I was given a promotion at work last year'.

Whereas when you are talking about it more concretely you might be inclined to use 'job' usually. For example:

'It' s part of my job to make sure everything runs smoothely in this department'.
'In my job I have to talk and write to people in America a lot because our headquarters are in New York'.
' For this job it' s very important to speak several languages and to know how to use excell'.


So I think 'job' is used more as the summary of all responsibilities, tasks, skills etc that involve being able to do the job, therefore it is more concrete. (For instance it's a 'jobdescription' meaning, all things relevant to describe what the job entails.)

Also you would use 'job' for a concrete task. e.g.

'We have a job to do!' or
' It' s a dirty job but someone has to do it' (Often used jokingly e.g. when something is actually very pleasant.. )


Maybe - but this is something others can answer better - it would be more or less the difference between 'puesto' and 'trabajo' ? (Although 'position' also exists in English for 'puesto' I think).

Native speaker' s opinion?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I'd like to have a guide about the use of work and job. Could someone give me some help? Thanks

Tomísimo or Rusty, please, could you correct my mistake in the tittle? I forgot a 'k'. Thanks.

Maybe these two links will clarify the concept and its usage.

http://www.wordreference.com/es/tran...p?tranword=job

http://www.wordreference.com/es/tran...?tranword=work

[bobjenkins]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I'd like to have a guide about the use of work and job. Could someone give me some help? Thanks

Tomísimo or Rusty, please, could you correct my mistake in the tittle? I forgot a 'k'. Thanks.

Irmamar debes poder cambiar el titulo cuando haga clic para editar

[ROBINDESBOIS]

MUy fácil:
JOb is countable y work is uncountable and then you have some collocations
to be at work, to be out of work, to start work, to finish work etc...
But always a job and some work.

[irmamar]

OK, thanks everybody.

I think I'll have to study the examples in wordreference

That difference between countable and uncountable with "trabajo" I'm not able to see very clearly, but I'll try

Bob, I edited the post, but I couldn't change the tittle, anyway somebody has corrected it (thanks again)

[EmpanadaRica]

Originally Posted by irmamar

That difference between countable and uncountable with "trabajo" I'm not able to see very clearly, but I'll try

Maybe it helps to thnk of the job being more 'concrete' (i.e. the summary of all the tasks that make up the job), and 'work' being more the abstract concept?

You can have two jobs, but you can' t have two works - generally you have 'work' to do.. This can be for one job or for several ones..

[brute]

Originally Posted by irmamar

OK, thanks everybody.

I think I'll have to study the examples in wordreference

That difference between countable and uncountable with "trabajo" I'm not able to see very clearly, but I'll try

Bob, I edited the post, but I couldn't change the tittle, anyway somebody has corrected it (thanks again)

Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS

MUy fácil:
JOb is countable y work is uncountable and then you have some collocations
to be at work, to be out of work, to start work, to finish work etc...
But always a job and some work.

As Robin points out work is not countable. I think this means that work does not usually have a plural, and is an abstract concept.
Work can be a noun or a verb,
so you can say
I work at a job and I have a job of work
but it is wrong to say I job at a work and I have a work of job..

[chileno]

Originally Posted by brute

As Robin points out work is not countable. I think this means that work does not usually have a plural, and is an abstract concept.
Work can be a noun or a verb,
so you can say
I work at a job and I have a job of work
but it is wrong to say I job at a work and I have a work of job..

I have heard people stating:

it is my work to do this.

and

it is my job to do this.

I always use the latter though.

[brute]

Originally Posted by chileno

I have heard people stating:

it is my work to do this.

and

it is my job to do this.

I always use tha latter though.

Yes you are right. The latter works better It does a better job