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Prepositions with nouns

How to use prepositions with work

At work and to work are common fixed expressions, while of work appears only in larger grammatical structures.

Quick answer

At work vs to work vs of work

Use at work for being in the workplace or working, and to work for movement toward work or a workplace. Of work is not usually a fixed combination with work alone, but it appears in phrases such as hours of work or the results of work.

She is at work now.
I walked to work this morning.
The quality of work impressed the manager.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
at work

Showing location or activity

Use at work for being in the workplace or engaged in work.

He is still at work.
Everyone was busy at work during the inspection.
2
to work

Showing movement toward work

Use to work after verbs of movement.

She cycles to work every day.
We hurried to work after the storm.
3
of work

Showing relationship in a larger noun phrase

Of work is used when work is part of a noun phrase such as type of work or amount of work.

The amount of work increased suddenly.
This kind of work requires patience.
4
work on + project

Talking about tasks and projects

Use work on for the activity someone is doing.

They continue to work on the new design.
She spent the evening working on her report.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
at work
Maria is at work until six.
At the workplace or busy working.
to work
He drove to work.
Movement toward a workplace.
of work
The pressure of work affected his health.
Part of a larger noun phrase about work.
work on
They are working on a solution.
Doing or developing something.

Common mistakes

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

Using to work for location

To work expresses movement, not location.

✕ She is to work now. ✓ She is at work now.

Using at work after movement verbs

After go, drive, walk, and similar verbs, use to work.

✕ He walked at work. ✓ He walked to work.

Treating of work as a fixed expression

Of work usually belongs to a larger phrase.

✕ I am tired of work today. ✓ I am tired from work today.

Missing the article in noun phrases

Many expressions with of work need another noun before of.

✕ Of work is stressful. ✓ The amount of work is stressful.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She is still ___ .
2. We took the bus ___ .
3. The amount ___ was surprising.

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Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

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Frequently asked questions

Is at work only about location?

No. It can also mean actively working.

Can I say go at work?

Standard English uses go to work.

Why does of work sound incomplete sometimes?

Because it usually needs another noun before it, such as type of work or hours of work.

of, about, against, to or for racism? of, about, for, in or on friendship? of, about, for, on or to thing? of, about, for, to or with sex? of, about, on, to or for moon? "of access" or "with access"? "of accommodation" or "for accommodation"? "of accuracy" or "for accuracy"? "of action" or "in action"? "of actor", "with actor" or "by actor"? "of address" or "to address"? "of administration" or "in administration"?

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