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Prepositions after adjectives

Working with, for, in, on or out?

Working combines with several prepositions depending on the meaning. The preposition changes the type of work, employer, location, or task.

Quick answer

How do you use working with different prepositions?

Use working with for collaboration, working for for an employer, working in for a field or place, working on for a task, and working out for exercise or solving something.

She is working with a new designer.
He is working for a software company.
They are working on the budget.
I am working out at the gym.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
working with + person/tool

Collaboration or use

Use with for cooperation or using something.

We are working with local farmers.
2
working for + company/person

Employment

Use for to name an employer or client.

She is working for an international bank.
3
working in + field/place

Area or location of work

Use in for industries, departments, or places.

He is working in healthcare.
4
working on + project/problem

Tasks and projects

Use on for tasks that receive attention or effort.

They are working on a new design.
5
working out

Exercise or successful result

Working out can mean exercising or developing successfully.

Everything is working out well.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
working with
I am working with a translator.
collaborating with someone
working for
She is working for a law firm.
employed by someone
working in
He is working in finance.
active in a field or place
working on
We are working on the report.
focusing effort on a task
working out
Their plan is working out.
developing successfully

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using for instead of with for collaboration

For usually means employment, not cooperation.

✕ I am working for my classmates on the project. ✓ I am working with my classmates on the project.

Using in instead of on for tasks

Use on for projects and tasks.

✕ She is working in a new proposal. ✓ She is working on a new proposal.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. He is working ___ a hospital.
2. We are working ___ a solution.
3. She is working ___ her brother this week.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between working for and working with?

Working for means being employed by someone. Working with means cooperating with someone.

Can working out mean exercising?

Yes. It commonly means doing physical exercise.

Is working in used for industries?

Yes. You can say working in education, finance, or marketing.

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