Question

Updated on 3 Feb 2023

3 February

Japanese

English (US)

Question about English (US)

It was volunteer *work, but the organizers made sure everyone had enough money to live on.

If I put "a" (indefinite article) to work, does it sound weird?

Answers

emtrivoli

3 February

English (US)

"volunteer work" is the whole phrase.... so no article needed.

example: When i got laid off, I did some VOLUNTEER WORK until I found a new job.

Highly-rated answerer

nomadatlatl

3 February

Japanese

@emtrivoli Thanks a lot as always. So "volunteer work" itself is an uncountable noun, right?🤔

nomadatlatl

3 February

Japanese

@Jean_G Thanks a lot as always. Sorry for getting you confused. I'd just like to know the difference between volunteer work (with no article) and a volunteer work (with an article) in this context.
Can you please elaborate a bit more on this point?🙏

Jean_G

3 February

English (US)
English (UK)

@nomadatlatl oh, I'm sorry, my bad, we usually don't use indefinite article with "work," but if you use the work as a countable noun, then you may. For example, "the painting is a new work by the Japanese artist 〇〇."

Highly-rated answerer

nomadatlatl

3 February

Japanese

@Jean_G So, as emtrivoli mentioned, "volunteer work" always needs no article as an uncountable noun, right?
Thanks a lot in advance.

emtrivoli

3 February

English (US)

i don't know as much about English language 'rules' as you do!
but 'volunteer work' is a noun all by itself.

what are you going to do after you retire?
Volunteer work, probably. What about you?

OR: I'm going to VOLUNTEER (as a verb)... maybe at the elementary school.

Highly-rated answerer

nomadatlatl

3 February

Japanese

@emtrivoli Thanks a lot again. Your explanation is so instructive, and you're a great help, thank you! ᕙ⁠(⁠ ⁠ ⁠•⁠ ⁠‿⁠ ⁠•⁠ ⁠ ⁠)⁠ᕗ

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It was volunteer *work, but the organizers made sure everyone had enough money to live on.

If I put "a" (indefinite article) to work, does it sound weird?

It was volunteer *work, but the organizers made sure everyone had enough money to live on.If I put "a" (indefinite article) to work, does it sound weird? See a translation

"volunteer work" is the whole phrase.... so no article needed. example: When i got laid off, I did some VOLUNTEER WORK until I found a new job.

@nomadatlatl oh, I'm sorry, my bad, we usually don't use indefinite article with "work," but if you use the work as a countable noun, then you may. For example, "the painting is a new work by the Japanese artist 〇〇."

i don't know as much about English language 'rules' as you do! but 'volunteer work' is a noun all by itself. what are you going to do after you retire? Volunteer work, probably. What about you?OR: I'm going to VOLUNTEER (as a verb)... maybe at the elementary school.

It was volunteer *work, but the organizers made sure everyone had enough money to live on.

If I put "a" (indefinite article) to work, does it sound weird?

"volunteer work" is the whole phrase.... so no article needed.

example: When i got laid off, I did some VOLUNTEER WORK until I found a new job.

i don't know as much about English language 'rules' as you do!
but 'volunteer work' is a noun all by itself.

what are you going to do after you retire?
Volunteer work, probably. What about you?

OR: I'm going to VOLUNTEER (as a verb)... maybe at the elementary school.