Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Understanding 'Work At': Usage and Examples

"To truly excel in any field, one must diligently work at improving their skills, cultivating expertise, and maintaining perseverance."

📖 Definition

The phrase 'work at' means to apply effort and dedication toward achieving improvement or progress in a particular task or skill.

Examples in context

She works at learning to speak French fluently every day after class.
They worked at enhancing the garden's beauty through careful planning and design.
I am working at my patience, finding ways to remain calm and composed.

📖 Definition

The phrase 'work at' means to apply effort and dedication toward achieving improvement or progress in a particular task or skill.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

Cannot come between 'work' and 'at'.

Neutral

Appropriate for both informal and formal contexts.

Transitive

Yes

Requires an object to complete its meaning.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	work at	I work at honing my painting skills every day.
Past Simple	worked at	He worked at mastering the guitar for years.
Present Continuous	working at	She is working at improving her tennis serve.
Present Perfect	have worked at	They have worked at repairing the old house for months.

💡 When to Use

Skill improvement

Use when someone is putting effort into gaining proficiency in a skill.

Example: "He is working at becoming a better chef."

Solving a problem

Refers to someone dedicating time to find solutions.

Example: "The team is working at solving the design issues."

Career development

Used when focusing on advancing in a professional role.

Example: "She has worked at climbing the corporate ladder for years."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Incorrect preposition

❌ Wrong: He works about the problem.

✅ Correct: He works at the problem.

💡 Tip: Use 'at' to indicate focus.

Omission of object

❌ Wrong: She works at.

✅ Correct: She works at improving her skills.

💡 Tip: Always include what is being worked on.

Spelling mistake

❌ Wrong: He is work at the task.

✅ Correct: He is working at the task.

💡 Tip: Ensure correct verb form for tense.

Practice

WORK AT - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

She works at learning to speak French fluently every day after class.
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2
Listen to example

They worked at enhancing the garden's beauty through careful planning and design.
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3
Listen to example

I am working at my patience, finding ways to remain calm and composed.
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Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

focus on concentrate on

Antonyms

neglect

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"She needs to ___ at her drawing skills to qualify for the art competition."

work to

work at

work into

work over

In Context

Thomas Edison, one of America's greatest inventors, is famous for his work on the electric light bulb. Despite numerous failures, he continued to work at perfecting his design. In his laboratory in Menlo Park, Edison and his team worked at solving the problem of creating a long-lasting filament. He believed that consistent effort, despite setbacks, would lead to success. There were more than a thousand unsuccessful attempts, but Edison kept the morale high by viewing each as a step closer to discovery. Eventually, his commitment paid off when he found that a carbonized bamboo filament could last over 1,200 hours. This breakthrough revolutionized the way people lived and worked, with cities illuminated after dark for the first time. Even after this success, Edison continued to work at improving his inventions, filing over 1,000 patents in his lifetime. His relentless dedication not only established a legacy of innovation but also exemplified how perseverance and hard work at refining one’s craft can lead to groundbreaking achievements.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Work At

What is the origin of work at?

The phrase 'work at' originates from the Old English proverb of labor and dedication, implying the need for steady effort to achieve skills or solve tasks.

Can work at be used in formal and informal contexts?

'Work at' is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings, suitable for describing focused efforts in various contexts from professional to casual.

What is the difference between work at and focus on?

While 'work at' implies putting effort into improvement, 'focus on' emphasizes concentration or attention, though both are often used interchangeably in practice.

Browse All Tiny House Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey

📖 Definition

📖 Definition

📝 Grammar Info

📊 Conjugation Table

💡 When to Use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

WORK AT - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

In Context

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Work At

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega