Practice
I am doing a job: describe current work naturally
Sign in to saveSomeone asks where you work. You can say, ‘I work at a grammar school,’ if it is your regular job. If the arrangement is temporary or happening around now, say, ‘I am working at a grammar school.’
Describe a regular job, temporary work, and current study with natural English phrases.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
I am currently working at a grammar school. /aɪ əm ˈkʌrəntli ˈwɜːkɪŋ æt ə ˈɡræmə skuːl/
The short answer
For a regular job, say ‘I work at a grammar school.’ For work that is temporary or limited to the present period, say ‘I am currently working at a grammar school.’ If you are a student there, say ‘I study at a grammar school.’
I work at a grammar school as a science teacher.
Why it works: Work at names the speaker's regular place of employment.
4 more examples
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I am working at a grammar school while its receptionist is on leave.
The present continuous suggests a temporary work arrangement.
Not this:I
work at the grammar schoolnear my home. What changes: The present simple presents the job as a usual fact. -
She has a job at a grammar school in the town centre.
Have a job emphasizes that she holds a position there.
Not this:She is
doing a job for the schoolthis weekend. What changes: Doing a job for the school can mean completing a particular task, not necessarily working there as an employee. -
My brother is currently studying at a grammar school.
The sentence describes his present education.
Not this:My brother
currently worksat a grammar school. What changes: Works identifies him as an employee during the present period. -
We are working at the school until the new library opens.
Until the new library opens gives the temporary arrangement an end point.
Not this:We
work at the schoolevery Monday. What changes: Every Monday describes a regular schedule.
Read the full guide
First, decide what you want to say about the school. Are you employed there, or are you studying there? Then decide whether the situation is a regular fact or a temporary arrangement. Work and study are the natural verbs for these meanings. Doing a job can describe completing a task, but it is less natural when you are simply naming your employment.
Name regular employment with work
Use the present simple when a job is a regular fact: I work at a grammar school. This form answers questions such as Where do you work? or What do you do?
Nadia works at a grammar school as a careers adviser.
Works at identifies Nadia's workplace and her normal job. It does not mean that she is a student there.
Choose the natural verb for a permanent teacher: work or study?
Use work: The teacher works at a grammar school.
Use am working for a temporary arrangement
Use the present continuous when the work is happening around now and may not be permanent. It often fits a short contract, holiday cover, training placement, or a job with a stated end date.
I am working at a grammar school for the autumn term.
For the autumn term makes the limited period clear. The sentence does not promise that the job will continue after the term.
You are covering a colleague's leave. Which form fits best?
Use am working: I am working at the school while my colleague is away.
Use study when you are a student
Study at a school tells the listener that you attend classes there. It does not describe employment. Present simple is natural for a usual course of education, while am studying can stress the current stage of that education.
I study at a grammar school in Leeds.
The speaker attends the school as a student. A teacher there would say I work at a grammar school.
Which verb describes a pupil's place of education?
Use study: The pupil studies at the school.
Choose have a job to stress the position
Have a job at a school is another natural way to say that you are employed there. It is useful when the existence of the position matters, for example when describing a new job or comparing work options.
After her interview, Elena got a job at a grammar school.
Got a job describes the result of the interview. Elena can later say that she works at the school.
You want to say that someone holds a position at the school. Which phrase can you use?
Use have a job: He has a job at the school.
Keep do a job for a task
Do a job is possible when job means a piece of work or a task. For example, a technician can do a job for a school by repairing a computer network. It is less natural than work at when you mean ordinary employment.
The electrician is doing a job for the school this week.
For the school shows that the electrician is completing work for the school. It does not say that the school employs the electrician.
Which sentence describes a regular employee: I do a job at the school, or I work at the school?
Use I work at the school for regular employment.
Before you go
Remember this
Say I work at a grammar school for a regular job. Say I am working at a grammar school for temporary or present-period work. Say I have a job at a grammar school when you want to stress that you hold a position. If you are a learner at the school, use study, not work. Use do a job for a particular task, not as the usual way to name employment.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "I am doing a job: describe current work naturally"
Is I am doing a job at a grammar school correct?
The sentence is understandable, but I work at a grammar school is more natural when you mean regular employment. I am doing a job can suggest that you are completing one particular task. Use work at for the usual way to name your workplace.
I work at a grammar school as a science teacher.
Should I say I work or I am working at a school?
Use I work at a school for a regular or long-term job. Use I am working at a school for a temporary arrangement or work happening during the present period. A time phrase such as for this term can make the temporary meaning clearer.
I study at a grammar school and enjoy science.
Can a student say I work at a grammar school?
Use I study at a grammar school when you attend the school as a student. Use I work at a grammar school when you are employed there. A student who also has a part-time job at the school can use both phrases, depending on which role they mean.
I am working at a grammar school while its receptionist is on leave.
Is I have a job at a school natural English?
Yes. I have a job at a school is natural when you want to emphasize that you hold a position there. I work at a school is often more direct when the listener has simply asked where you work or what you do.
I work at the grammar school near my home.
Do I need the word currently with I am working?
Usually, no. I am working already refers to the present period, especially when the context shows that the arrangement is temporary. Add currently only when you are contrasting this job with an earlier or later job, or when the timing needs emphasis.
She has a job at a grammar school in the town centre.