Start work vs. start working

[emilys]

English Error, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #11 "At the Finance Company", question 6

I usually start work at 8:45 and finish at about 5:15. My colleagues and I work for the large finance company.

(a) start work
(b) colleagues
(c) the

English Error, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #11 "At the Finance Company", answer 6

I usually start work at 8:45 and finish at about 5:15. My colleagues and I work for a large finance company.

Correct entry: a
The error was: (c) the

You have not found the error.
I usually start working at 8:45 and finish at about 5:15. My colleagues and I work for the large finance company.
_________________________

I usually start working at 8:45 and finish at about 5:15. My colleagues and I work a the large finance company. Is this sentense correct??

[Mister Micawber]

.

[Kati Svaby]

Please activate Javascript in your browser to listen to this audio recording

12 Listened

Download mp3	Click to listen

Hello Mr. Micawber

My question would be:
Can we say start work is a collocation which is composed of a verb (start) and a noun (work-without any article) ?

Regards:
Kati Svaby

[Mister Micawber]

Please compose a sentence that concerns you, and I will review it.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Kati Svaby]

Please activate Javascript in your browser to listen to this audio recording

9 Listened

Download mp3	Click to listen

Hello Mister Micawber,

My sentence:

When I used to be an active teacher I usually started work at 8.am.

Many thanks and regards:
Kati Svaby

[Mister Micawber]

When I was an active teacher, I usually started work at 8 am.-- This is fine (there is no call for 'used to' here).
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Kati Svaby]

Please activate Javascript in your browser to listen to this audio recording

6 Listened

Download mp3	Click to listen

Hello Mr. Micawber,

Many thanks for your answer.

I would be curious to know used to be in this sentence is sung a false note? Or clumsy? As I am 70 year-old so I was a teacher is far away in time. I wouldn't express that I was an active teacher but I was an active teacher long time ago.

If I thought in this way it is enough to say I was a teacher?

Excuse me for asking you but for a not-native student is very difficult to express what he/she wants to say really.

Regards:
Kati Svaby

[Mister Micawber]

I would be curious to know used to be in this sentence is sung a false note? Or clumsy?-- -- It is simply not expected and unnecessary. 'Used to' refers to a past routine, but teaching by its very nature is a past routine. The distance in the past is necessary but not very relevant. We would use 'used to' when contrasting against a current situation: 'I used to be a teacher but now I'm a tour conductor'.

If I thought in this way it is enough to say I was a teacher?-- Yes, in the sentence you gave us.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Kati Svaby]

Hello Mr. Micawber,

Your explanation was very useful for me. Many thanks for it.
Regards:
Kati Svaby