Going to Work- Meaning, Usage, and Alternative Ways

Going to work Meaning, Usage and Alternative Ways

“Going to work ” This one simple phrase can have several meanings and usages. Moreover, at different instances and contexts, the whole sense of sentence changes. So let’s dive deep and find out some amazing usages and alternatives to this.

There are two major meanings of “going to work.”

“Going to is used when one wants to say they’re going to their workplace. Going to work means that one is heading to their work or commuting to their workplace.

The second one 

Going to is used as a future tense. Something likely to happen shortly. Going to work means that one will be working shortly, so in this case, it depicts the future tense.

More about usages of going to work with examples

Going to work means physically commuting to work. Work here generally means an office, factory, or any workplace. So, in general, we can say it means one is going to their job. There could be various instances when this can be used to refer to heading to the workplace. Usage of going to work as a way of saying” Leaving for office.”

Example 1

Early in the morning, a friend calls up and says, “Hey, Ava! We are planning a day out today. Would you like to join us? And Ava replies. Now, I am going to work. So I would not be able to join you guys today. Here it means that Ava will not join them for a day out as she has to go to work today. Going to work here means she will go to the office.

Example 2

Hey, Jay! could you please drop me at the gift shop tomorrow morning while going to work. Here “going to work ” is used to refer to while commuting to the workplace. So it’s asked if Jay could drop her at the gift shop while he will be commuting to his workplace.

Going to Work with Some Prepositions

The phrase Going to work can be used in day-to-day parlance with some prepositions. Here are a few examples to provide insights about it.

Going to work with

Here the phrase “going to work with” refers to a scenario when someone goes to the workplace with someone.

This means someone is accompanied while going to the workplace.

See the following example.

“I am going to work with Rosee today as my car broke down last night.”

Going to work By

“Going to work by “talks about the mode of conveyance used to get to the workplace. 

See the following example.

“Today I am going to work by car. You could come along. I will drop you at the shop.”

Usage of Going to work as to talk about Future Tense.

Going to work is used to refer to the future tense. It is used in scenarios when someone wants to talk about the work that is to be done soon when talking about the work that will be done or planning to do or is supposed to do.

Let us learn more about its usage as future tense with the help of examples

  • Examples 1

Hey Dake! have you finished writing your article?

No, I haven’t finished it yet. I am going to work on it tonight.

Here going to work is depicting the action which will be performed in the future. Dake hasn’t done the work, and he will be doing it tonight, so he uses the phrase “going to work “on it.

This is a good way of talking about what is likely to happen .soon

Use of Going to Work with Prepositions

Going to work on/upon

Example 

Here is a conversation between Gracy, a Personality development trainer, and Alivia, who is at her institute to improve her communication skills.

Ms. Gracy: Alivia, you are quite good with your speaking skills, but you need to improve your listening skills to have good communication skills.

Alivia: Yes, Surely I am going to work upon it.

Ms. Garcy: Oh, that’s great.

How are you planning to spend your weekend? 

Alivia: Well, this weekend I will work on my health as all these days I have been quite busy. I am going to devote some time to self-care.

Ms. Gracy: Going to work on your health! That sounds great.

This conversation between Ms. Gracy and Alivia “going to work ” is used with the preposition “on.”

It means to work upon something. It is often used positively to improve something or enhance something or pay attention to something.

For Example 

  • Going to work on health: Which means pay attention to health and healthy habits.
  • Going to work on skills: This means pay attention to learning skills, improving the skills
  • Going to work on building relationships: This means devising ways to have better relationships, try to improve them.
  • Going to work on a new project: Which means to begin with a new project.
  • Going to work with:
    • Here two meanings can be inferred. Let’s understand two different meanings and usages by asking questions
      • The first question is, “Who are you going to work with”? This question asks about the people with whom you will be working. This question can be answered like  “I am going to work with Mr. James. He is one of the finest writers. Here in this example, going to work with refers to the people with whom one will be working or people who will accompany while at the workplace. The people with whom one is going to work shortly. It is a good way to say that ” I am Going to work with so and so.
      • Another question that can be asked to understand the meaning and context is  “going to work with what?” This question asks about things, equipment, situations, problems, and challenges. This can be comprehended well with the help of an example.

Example1:

Our team is going to work with automated detection systems to reduce the chances of mistakes.

Example2:

We are going to work with the most advanced tools and machinery. In both these cases, “going to work with ” answers the question “what”.The answer talks about the non -living attributes or equipment.

Example 3:

As I have committed to providing the article on time, I will work with a fever today.

Example 4:

We will work with a heavy heart as one of our beloved colleagues has taken his way to eternity.

Example 5:

The team is ready to work with new policies and regulations

In all these cases mentioned above, “going to work with” answers the question “work with what” talking about situations, problems, and challenges.

Going to work For

This phrase answers the question:

  •  Going to work for whom?
  • Going to work for what?
  •  Going to work for whom?

The answer goes like

  •  “I am going to work for Ms. Grace.
  • “We are going to work for Ms. Grace.”
  • “They are going to work for Ms. Grace.”

Here,” going to work for ” talks about someone.

Going to work for what?

  • “I am going to work for the welfare of the people.
  • “We are going to work to empower the women of the society.
  • “They are going to work for a noble cause.”
  • Here,” going to work for” talks about something.

Going to work refers to a scenario when someone is talking about a person or the purpose they are about to work for. Going to work is used to talk about the future happening. It talks about something that has not started yet but is likely to start.

  • Going to work at
  • Going to work at answers the question:
  • Going to work where?
  • Going to work when?

The answer goes like this:

  • “I am going to work at one of the most advanced locations in the state.”
  • ” They are going to work at a great place in America.
  • “The place they are going to work at does not seem to be much appropriate for them.”

Going to work refers to the place or kind of place or location one will be working at soon. Thus, going to work is used with a preposition to talk about the place or location of the work one will be working at soon. 

The next question, “going to work at,” asks us about the time.

See the following example:

  • “I am going to work at 4.00 P.M.
  • “I am going to work at 7.00 A.M.

This means talking about the specific time one is going to work. This is talking about the work that will be done in the future. One thing to remember here is that this should not be confused with the time asked for going to the workplace.

Alternative ways of saying going to work 

  • Leaving for work: “Leaving for work is often used in place of ” going to work.

Example: “I am leaving for work now. Otherwise, I Will be late for the meeting.”

  • Heading to work: This can be used rather than using going to work. This means that one is reaching or moving towards their work or job.

For example, ” I have a very important meeting today, so I am heading to work immediately so that you can carry on with your shopping.”

Commuting to workplace /Commuting to work. This can be used to work while one is driving to their work or traveling to the workplace. I can be used as the following example.

  • Hey Ciara! Your workplace is quite farther from your place. How do you manage to commute there?”
  • Ciara: ” Well! I do prefer taking a cab or using public transport for commuting to work”.

On the way to work: This is the easiest and most simple way of saying going to work on the way to work means traveling to their workplace. Take a look at the following example.

  • Hey Dave, will you be joining us today for the picnic
  • Dave: Sorry but I won’t be able to. I have an important meeting, and I am on the way to my work.

Getting to work

Getting to work is often used in place of going to work. It is most commonly used when there has been a break from work someday, and one is talking about going to work again. It talks about the future tense. See the following example.

  • I enjoyed the refreshing long weekend trip. But, unfortunately, I will be getting to work tomorrow. 

Starting with work: Starting with work is used when starting with new work or a new job role.

Starting with work is also used when there has been a break or a stop-gap, and again one is looking forward to starting with their work.

Scenario 1

Alina is starting with work after 6 months of maternity leave.

Scenario 2

After a short refreshment break, he is starting with work again to finish the work on time.

Set to work: It can be used as an alternative to going to work. If you wish to reach on time, you need to set to work.

Here, in this case, it means to go to work, leave for work.

This is a great way of saying going to work.

Set to work means to begin work.

It means to start with something new or continue doing something after an interval.

For example, Our team is set to work on this project, and each of them is putting sincere efforts to get better results. It also means to be dedicated to achieving something. It also means to work upon something or when one wishes to say going to work upon something. I am set to work on my weak areas and get the best score in upcoming assessments. Levy is set to work as a new project manager.

The best thing about using the phrase ” set to work ” is that it gives a more dedicated and focussed appeal to the listener. Whether it is a formal conversation or an informal chit-chat, communicating and comprehending in the right way is the key. The difference in usage of going to work is just of the context it is being used in. So it is necessary to understand the context in which the phrase “going to work “is being used.

Question

What is the difference between going to work and going to work?

Going to work means commuting to the workplace. Going for work means going for some work that may be official or related to that but not necessarily related to office work.

Going to Work- Meaning, Usage, and Alternative Ways

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