What is working? Pronunciation and usage in English

working means . Learn how to pronounce and use working through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of working

workingadjective

/ˈwəːkɪŋ/
Definition & pronunciation of working

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "working." It's a tricky one for many learners! Here's a breakdown:

1. Phonetic Transcription (for the most accurate sound):

  • /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/ (British English)
  • /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/ (American English - slightly different vowel)

2. Syllable Breakdown & Pronunciation:

  • "Work": This is the core of the word. It's pronounced like "wurk" (rhymes with "furk"). The "w" is a regular "w" sound. The "or" sound is a short "ur" sound, like in "hurt."
  • "ing": This is the most challenging part! It's a diphthong – a blend of two vowel sounds.
    • British English: The "ing" is pronounced like a short "er" sound, as in "bird" or "hurt." It creates a flowing sound.
    • American English: The "ing" is slightly more open and rounded, similar to the sound in "ear" or "better." It might sound a little closer to "er" than the British pronunciation.

3. Putting it Together:

Say it slowly: "Wurk - ing"

Then, speed it up a little: “Work-ing”

4. Key Differences Between British and American English:

  • "ing" sound: This is the biggest difference. British English aims for a smoother, flowing "er" sound, while American English tends towards a slightly sharper "er."

5. Tips for Improving Your Pronunciation:

  • Listen to native speakers: The best way to learn is to hear it. Listen to how people in the UK and the US pronounce "working" in conversations, podcasts, or videos.
  • Record yourself: Record yourself saying the word and compare it to a native speaker’s pronunciation.
  • Focus on the "ing" sound: Practice saying words with the "ing" ending (e.g., singing, running, thinking) to get comfortable with the diphthong.

Resources for Hearing Pronunciation:

  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/%C3%98rk%C3%98ng/ (This site lets you hear pronunciations from different speakers)
  • YouTube: Search for "how to pronounce working" on YouTube – you'll find many videos demonstrating the pronunciation.

Do you want me to:

  • Practice saying "working" with you?
  • Give you more examples of words with the "ing" ending?

Usage and examples with the word working in English

Let's break down how to use the word "working" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several different meanings and grammatical forms. Here's a detailed breakdown:

1. As an Adjective (Describing Something in Action):

  • Most Common Usage: This is the most frequent way you'll encounter "working." It describes something that's currently doing something, in progress, or actively functioning.

    • “The working clock showed 3:00 PM.” (The clock is currently ticking.)
    • “I’m working on a new project.” (I am actively engaged in it.)
    • “This is a working prototype.” (It's a model that's being tested and developed.)
    • “The working hours are 9am to 5pm.” (The hours during which the system is operational)

2. As a Present Participle (Used in Continuous Tenses):

  • Describing Ongoing Actions: "Working" combined with a verb creates a continuous tense (like "is working," "are working," "was working," etc.). It describes an action that's happening right now or over a period of time.

    • “She is working hard on her studies.” (She currently is engaged in studying.)
    • “They were working together on the film.” (They were actively collaborating on the film in the past.)
    • “He works in a bank.” (His job is to work in a bank.) – This is a present simple tense, but “working” describes his job role.

3. As a Verb (Meaning "To Be Employed"):

  • Describing Employment Status: This is the most common meaning when talking about jobs.

    • “I work as a teacher.” (My job is to be a teacher.)
    • “She works for a large corporation.” (She is employed by a large corporation.)
    • “He’s working from home today.” (He is performing his job duties remotely.)

4. As an Adverb (Describing Manner - Less Common):

  • Indicating Active Effort: Rarely, "working" can be used as an adverb to emphasize effort or intensity.

    • “Don’t just stand there – working helps!” (Be active and engaged in the task.) This usage is a bit old-fashioned and sounds slightly awkward now.

Important Notes & Variations:

  • “Working Class”: A socio-economic group of people who typically do manual labor.
  • “Working Title”: A temporary title for a piece of writing (book, film, etc.) that may change later.
  • “Working Order”: The state of functioning properly.

Here’s a table summarizing the different uses:

Usage Meaning Example
Adjective Currently in action, functioning “The working machine stopped.”
Participle Ongoing action (continuous tense) “She is working on the report.”
Verb To be employed “I work as a nurse.”
Adverb (rare) With effort, actively engaging “Just keep working!”

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to write or speak about? (e.g., a job application, a description of an object, a conversation about work?)

Synonyms for the word working

Practice with vocabulary working

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The team is currently _______ on a new prototype that promises to revolutionize energy consumption.
  2. Despite the tight deadline, all departments were _______ diligently to ensure the project's success.
  3. After the software update, the system became fully _______ again, processing data at optimal speed.
  4. Many graduates are finding it challenging to secure full-time _______ in their chosen field due to the competitive market.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. The new security protocol is _______ perfectly, blocking all unauthorized access attempts. a) faulty b) operational c) defective d) working

  2. Our project team has been _______ hard to meet the revised budget targets. a) procrastinating b) striving c) toiling d) working

  3. After several adjustments, the redesigned workflow is finally _______ as intended, improving efficiency significantly. a) dysfunctional b) effective c) useless d) working

  4. The consultant offered several strategies to enhance team _______ and achieve better outcomes. a) dormancy b) productivity c) inaction d) idleness

  5. She found her new _______ as a data analyst to be both challenging and rewarding. a) avocation b) pastime c) profession d) recreation

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: The new software program performs all tasks correctly without any errors. Rewrite using "working" or related word forms:

  2. Original: Our team members are dedicating significant effort to finalize the report by Friday. Rewrite using "working" or related word forms:

  3. Original: The machine is now fully operational after the recent maintenance. Rewrite NOT using "working":

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. working
  2. working
  3. functional
  4. employment

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) operational, d) working
  2. b) striving, c) toiling, d) working
  3. b) effective, d) working
  4. b) productivity
  5. c) profession

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Rewrite: The new software program is working correctly, performing all tasks without any errors.
  2. Rewrite: Our team members are working diligently to finalize the report by Friday.
  3. Rewrite: The machine is now fully functional after the recent maintenance.

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