Jobs and Professions in English
Do more with this exercise
Learn the names of common jobs and the places where people work. Read each word and its example, then do the exercises. Remember: use a or an before a job (a teacher, an engineer). Use What do you do? to ask about a job.
School and health
teachera person who works in a school
My mother is a teacher.
doctora person who helps sick people to get well
The doctor works in a big hospital.
nursea person who helps doctors and sick people
My sister is a nurse in a hospital.
dentista person who looks after your teeth
I go to the dentist every year.
veta doctor for animals
The vet looks at our dog.
Shops and services
waitera person who brings food to your table in a restaurant
The waiter brings us two coffees.
cooka person who makes food in a restaurant
My uncle is a cook in a small restaurant.
bakera person who makes bread and cakes
The baker gets up at 4 o'clock.
cashiera person who takes your money in a shop
The cashier gives me a receipt.
shop assistanta person who helps you in a shop
She is a shop assistant in a clothes shop.
hairdressera person who cuts your hair
My hairdresser is very nice.
taxi drivera person who drives a taxi
The taxi driver knows the city well.
mechanica person who fixes cars
My uncle is a mechanic.
Offices and technology
accountanta person who works with money and numbers for a company
Her husband is an accountant.
managera person who is the boss of a team or a shop
The manager talks to the team every morning.
receptionista person who meets people at the door of an office
The receptionist says hello to everyone.
engineera person who plans and builds machines, roads or buildings
He is an engineer at a car company.
programmera person who writes computer programs
My brother is a programmer.
lawyera person who helps people with the law
She is a lawyer in a big office.
Work outside and with your hands
farmera person who works on a farm
The farmer has a lot of cows.
buildera person who makes houses and buildings
The builders work from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
police officera person who helps people and stops crime
A police officer helps us in the street.
firefightera person who helps people when there is a fire
The firefighters come very quickly.
pilota person who flies a plane
My brother is a pilot.
electriciana person who fixes lights and electricity
We need an electrician in the kitchen.
Where people work
officea room or building where people work at desks
I work in an office in the city.
factorya big building where people make things
My father works in a factory.
hospitala big building where doctors and nurses help sick people
She works in a hospital.
restauranta place where you eat a meal and pay
He works in a restaurant.
farmland with animals and plants for food
They live and work on a farm.
Talking about work
jobthe work you do for money
He has a good job in a bank.
bossthe person who tells you what to do at work
My boss is very kind.
colleaguea person you work with
My colleagues are very nice.
Practice exercises
Match the Jobs
Match each job with what the person does.
Choose a word on the left, then its match on the right.
Choose the Correct Word
Choose the correct answer for each sentence.
7.My brother is ___ engineer.
8.A ___ helps sick people in a hospital.
9.Who cuts your hair? A ___.
10.Paul is a waiter. He works in a ___.
11."What does your father do?" "___."
12.A doctor ___ in a hospital.
13.Two ___ work at the shop: Ana and Tom.
Fill in the Blank
Type the missing word.
Talking about jobs in English
To ask about a job, say What do you do? or What does she do? The answer uses a or an and the name of the job: I'm a teacher. She is an engineer. Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound.
You can also say where you work. Use work in or work at: I work in a hospital. He works at a bank. With he, she and it, the present simple verb ends in -s: she works, he teaches.
Many job names end in -er or -or: teacher, builder, farmer, doctor. Some end in -ist or -ian: dentist, electrician. These words are the same for men and women, so we say a doctor for a man and a doctor for a woman.
Use these words to talk about your family and friends: My father is a builder. My sister is a nurse. Then ask your friend: What do you do?
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between job and work?
Job is countable: a job, two jobs. Work is uncountable, so we don't say a work. Say I have a good job, but I go to work and I like my work.
Do I use a or an before a job?
Yes, always use a or an before a job: She is a teacher. He is an engineer. Use an before a vowel sound: an accountant, an electrician.
What does What do you do? mean?
It asks about your job. The answer is I'm a nurse or I work in a bank. It does not ask what you are doing now.
Do I say waiter or waitress?
Waiter is for a man, and waitress is for a woman. Today many people use waiter for both.
Is it police officer or policeman?
Police officer is the usual word, for a man or a woman. You can also say policeman and policewoman. Many job names are the same for men and women: teacher, doctor, nurse, manager.
Answer key
1. teacher
Answer: works in a school
A teacher works in a school and helps children to learn.
2. pilot
Answer: flies a plane
A pilot flies a plane.
3. waiter
Answer: brings food to your table
A waiter brings food and drinks to your table in a restaurant.
4. farmer
Answer: works on a farm
A farmer works on a farm, with animals and plants.
5. hairdresser
Answer: cuts your hair
A hairdresser cuts your hair.
6. mechanic
Answer: fixes cars
A mechanic fixes cars.
7. My brother is ___ engineer.
Answer: an
Engineer starts with a vowel sound, so we use an: an engineer.
8. A ___ helps sick people in a hospital.
Answer: nurse
A nurse works in a hospital and helps sick people. A farmer works on a farm, and a pilot flies a plane.
9. Who cuts your hair? A ___.
Answer: hairdresser
A hairdresser cuts hair. A baker makes bread, and a dentist looks after your teeth.
10. Paul is a waiter. He works in a ___.
Answer: restaurant
A waiter brings food to your table in a restaurant.
11. "What does your father do?" "___."
Answer: He's a pilot
What does he do? asks about his job. The answer is a job: He's a pilot.
12. A doctor ___ in a hospital.
Answer: works
With a doctor (he or she), the present simple verb ends in -s: works.
13. Two ___ work at the shop: Ana and Tom.
Answer: shop assistants
There are two people, so the noun is plural: shop assistants.
14. Anna teaches children in a school. She is a ___.
Answer: teacher
A person who teaches in a school is a teacher.
15. My father grows food on his farm. He is a ___.
Answer: farmer
A person who works on a farm is a farmer.
16. He drives a taxi. He is a taxi ___.
Answer: driver
A person who drives a taxi is a taxi driver.
17. My mum is a nurse. She ___ in a hospital.
Answer: works
With she, the present simple verb ends in -s: she works.
18. A ___ makes bread and cakes.
Answer: baker
A baker makes bread and cakes.
19. What ___ your sister do? She's a vet.
Answer: does
With your sister (she), the question uses does: What does she do?