Talking about your job
We've already met работать (to work) and the instrumental case for professions. This lesson rounds out the workplace vocabulary and the typical phrases — describing your job, asking about someone else's, and the prepositions used with company names.
'I work as…' — instrumental for the role
Use работать + instrumental of the profession: - Я работаю учителем. = I work as a teacher. - Анна работает врачом. = Anna works as a doctor. This is the same instrumental we saw in lesson 16 for past/future of быть. With работать the instrumental is required regardless of tense.
'I work at…' — в / на + prepositional
- в школе, в офисе, в больнице, в банке — venues you're inside - на работе, на заводе, на станции — venues you're 'at' The choice between в and на is partly conventional. На работе (at work) is the most common idiom you'll hear daily.
Asking about someone's job
- Кем ты работаешь? = What do you do? (lit. 'as-whom do you work?' — instrumental of кто.) - Где ты работаешь? = Where do you work? - Чем ты занимаешься? = What do you do (in life / for work)? (Чем = instrumental of что.) Заниматься + instrumental = to be engaged in / to do something.
Going to work / to the office
Motion to a destination → в/на + accusative: - Я иду на работу. = I'm going to work. - Анна идёт в офис. = Anna's going to the office. Note: на работу (acc) for direction; на работе (prep) for location. Always на for работа.
