IN / ON / AT his job

Question

One of these sentences is going to appear in an upcoming English product. Which sentence sounds most natural to you?

1) The taxi driver doesn't get a lot of exercise IN his job.
2) The taxi driver doesn't get a lot of exercise ON his job.
3) The taxi driver doesn't get a lot of exercise AT his job.

(y) Thank you!

Hmea1 · Accepted Answer

Such a simple question. I wonder why it took 5 years for someone to respond to it.

3) The taxi driver doesn't get a lot of exercise at his job. - This sentence sounds the most natural.

Anonymous · Answer

Hello,

I wonder if 'in his job' is also acceptable. I googled 'in his job' and 'at his job'. As a result, the former had more hits than the latter. Isn't 'in his job' more natural?

Or is there a certain situation where one is more appropriate than the other?

Thank you.

Anonymous · Answer

Could someone please advise on this?  Thank you.

Dimsumexpress · Answer

There is a lot of stress: with / in / at his job.  The yare are all possible, depending on the rest of the context.

BillJ · Answer

AnonymousI wonder if 'in his job' is also acceptable. I googled 'in his job' and 'at his job'. As a result, the former had more hits than the latter. Isn't 'in his job' more natural? Or is there a certain situation where one is more appropriate than the other?

Hello

The noun 'exercise' permits several different prepositions as the head of a prepositional phrase that complements it:

The taxi driver doesn't get a lot of exercise IN his job.

The taxi driver doesn't get a lot of exercise AT the gym.

The taxi driver doesn't get a lot of exercise ON the golf course.

BillJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, dimsumexpress and BillJ, for your answers.

I would conclude that 'with/in/at his job' are all possible depending on the entire context, as dimusumexpress pointed out.

BillJ,

1. In one of your examples, 'exercise IN his job' is therefore the most natural. Please confirm.
2. How are the following different, by the way?

IN his job
AT his job
ON his job

Anonymous · Answer

Hi BillJ,

Would you mind sharing your thoughts on this, please? Thanks.

BillJ · Answer

Anonymous1. In one of your examples, 'exercise IN his job' is therefore the most natural. Please confirm.
2. How are the following different, by the way?

IN his job
AT his job
ON his job

Hi

Sorry I overlooked your question. Yes, 'exercise in his job' is the usual (natural) form. It's always very difficult to explain why certain prepositions are selected by certain verbs or nouns, and to large extent it's just convention that determines which one is actually correct (often several are correct). So, to answer your second question (using your examples):

IN typically indicates being inside something (tangible or intangible). It often heads complements to adjectives such as 'happy': 'He is not very happy in his job', or nouns such as 'experience': 'He didn't gain much experience in his job'.

AT is normally used to express location, arrival or time. For example, it may head a complement to a verb such as 'arrive': 'He must arrive at his job on time', or 'work': 'He must work hard at his job if he is to be successful'.

ON typically expresses contact with something (tangible or intangible). It's not usually associated with complements like 'his job', although you may hear 'I'm on his job tomorrow', meaning you will be working with or for someone else tomorrow.

BillJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much, BillJ.  I see it is really convention that determines the correct usage of prepositions, but in this particular example 'in/at/on his job', you've explained it very well.  This is clearer to me now.  I appreciate it.

Anonymous · Answer

IN / ON / AT his job

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