ENGLISH
REFERENCE

work hard

fixed phr..
A1 Beginner Oxford

fixed phr.. To use a lot of physical or mental effort to do something. It's the opposite of being lazy.

fixed phr.. A verb phrase consisting of the verb 'work' and the adverb 'hard', meaning to apply great effort or diligence to a task. This phrase is a strong collocation.


SIMPLE

She works hard to support her family.

CONTEXTUAL

If you want to pass the exam, you need to work hard and study every night.

COMPLEX

The legal team had to work hard for months, meticulously analyzing the evidence before the trial could even begin.

Usage

The adverb 'hard' directly follows the verb 'work' to describe the manner of working.

Teaching tip

Contrast 'work hard' (verb + adverb, meaning 'work diligently') with 'hard work' (adjective + noun, meaning 'difficult labor').

Pitfall

He works hardly to get good grades.He works hard to get good grades.The adverb 'hardly' means 'almost not at all', which is the opposite of the intended meaning.

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