What Does โwork on sbโ Mean?
The phrasal verb โwork on sbโ means to try to influence or persuade someone. It often involves making efforts to change someoneโs opinion or behavior.
Introduction
The phrase โwork on sbโ is commonly used in everyday English when talking about influencing others. Understanding the work on sb meaning helps learners communicate more naturally. It usually refers to making an effort to convince or affect someoneโs feelings or decisions. For example, a salesperson might work on a customer to make a sale. Knowing how to use โwork on sbโ correctly can improve your speaking and writing skills, especially in conversations about persuasion or emotional influence.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: work on somebody (sb)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To try to influence or persuade someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โWork on sbโ is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot separate โworkโ and โonโ by inserting an object.
Correct pattern: work on + somebody
Incorrect pattern: work + somebody + on
How to Use work on sb?
Use โwork on sbโ when you want to describe the action of trying to influence a personโs thoughts, feelings, or actions. This can be in many contexts, such as convincing, persuading, or emotionally affecting someone.
Examples of contexts:
- Trying to persuade a friend to join an activity
- Influencing a colleagueโs opinion at work
- Making emotional appeals to change someoneโs mind
Examples
Here are some natural sentences showing how to use โwork on sb in a sentenceโ:
- She is working on her parents to let her study abroad.
- The manager worked on the team to improve their performance.
- He tried to work on his friend to stop smoking.
- They worked on the client all afternoon to close the deal.
- Politicians often work on voters before elections.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners make mistakes by separating the phrasal verb or using the wrong preposition.
- Incorrect: I am working him on to change his mind.
- Correct: I am working on him to change his mind.
- Incorrect: She works somebody on every day.
- Correct: She works on somebody every day.
Differences / Synonyms
โWork on sbโ is similar to โpersuade sbโ or โinfluence sb,โ but it often implies a longer or more effortful process.
- Work on sb โ focus on effort to influence
- Persuade sb โ convince someone to do or believe something
- Influence sb โ affect someoneโs decisions or feelings
Unlike โwork on sb,โ โpersuadeโ can be more direct, and โinfluenceโ can be more subtle or indirect.
Common Collocations
You often hear โwork on sbโ with words related to people or groups you want to influence.
- work on someoneโs mind โ affect their thoughts
- work on someoneโs emotions โ influence feelings
- work on customers โ try to persuade buyers
- work on clients โ influence business partners
- work on friends/family โ persuade those close to you
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of work on sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using โwork on sbโ:
Anna: Have you tried to convince Tom to join the project?
Ben: Yes, Iโve been working on him all week. Heโs still unsure.
Anna: Keep working on him. I think heโll say yes soon.
Practice
Try this exercise to test your understanding of โwork on sbโ:
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the phrasal verb:
- She is __________ her parents to let her travel alone.
- They worked __________ the client to sign the contract.
- He needs to __________ his team before the presentation.
FAQ
- Q: Can โwork on sbโ mean fixing a person physically?
A: No, it usually means trying to influence or persuade someone emotionally or mentally. - Q: Is โwork on sbโ separable?
A: No, โwork on sbโ is inseparable; you cannot place the object between โworkโ and โon.โ - Q: Can โwork on sbโ be used in formal writing?
A: Yes, but it is more common in spoken or informal English. - Q: What is the difference between โwork on sbโ and โpersuade sbโ?
A: โWork on sbโ suggests ongoing effort, while โpersuade sbโ can mean a single act of convincing. - Q: Can โwork on sbโ be used in negative contexts?
A: Yes, it can mean trying to manipulate or pressure someone in a negative way.
