Prepositions about work: FOR - WITH - AT - IN

We use work for followed by a company name, We use work with followed by a body part, tools/instruments
organisation, cause, or the name of a person indicating for or people/animals. It is also used to indicate collaboration.
whose benefit the work is being done: e.g. I work with my father. (At the same company but he isn’t
e.g. I work for my father. my boss).
e.g. She works for the Town Hall. e.g. She works with computers.
e.g. We are working for a cleaner city centre. e.g. We are working with you for a cleaner city centre.
e.g. He worked for Nokia for 10 years. e.g. I work with my hands.
e.g. I’d rather work with my mind.
We use work at followed by a place or company name
indicating precisely where the work is happening in the space We use work in followed by a specific building, department or
of another, larger area: field of work, business or industry indicating inside an area:
e.g. I was working at my desk all morning. (In the office at my e.g. I was working in the office all morning. (The room or
desk) building where the office is housed).
e.g. She works at the Town Hall. (There is only one town hall). e.g. She works in the Town Hall. (The building itself).
e.g. He works at the school in the centre. e.g. He works in the school in the centre. (The School itself).
(We know which school in the centre is being talked about). e.g. She works in the sales department.

Fill in the gaps in the sentences below with the most appropriate prepositions from above.
Sometimes more than one answer is possible.

1. She works _______ the head office.
2. My sister is a vet. She works ________ animals.
3. Paul has a lot of experience. He has worked ________
this company for nearly 30 years.
4. Sharon works ________ the desk right next to the
office entrance.
11. They discovered that he was a spy and had been working
______ the enemy and giving them information.
12. I work ________ the bank at the end of the street.
13. Being a teacher is wonderful. I love working ______
children.
14. People who work ______ money should be honest.

5. My brother works _____ the only garage in the village. 15. She is working ______ our London office.

6. I am working ________ my neighbours on an
important project.
7. The government is working _______ a reduction in
unemployment levels.
8. She has been working _____ the kitchen all afternoon.
9. I work ______ finance.
16. We should all work ______ a better world.
17. I work ______ that factory over there.
18. She used to work ______ me when I ran the sales
department.
19. Both governments are working _______ the committee
to find a solution.

10. He is a cook and works _______ food. That’s why he 20. Tim works ______ the IT department.
is always washing his hands.
 Answers

1. She works at the head office.

2. My sister is a vet. She works with animals.

3. Paul has a lot of experience. He has worked for this company for nearly 30 years.

4. Sharon works at the desk right next to the office entrance.

5. My brother works at the only garage in the village.

6. I am working with my neighbours on an important project.

7. The government is working for a reduction in unemployment levels.

8. She has been working in the kitchen all afternoon.

9. I work in finance.

10. He is a cook and works with food. That’s why he is always washing his hands.

11. They discovered that he was a spy and had been working for the enemy and giving
them information.

12. I work in/for/at the bank at the end of the street.

13. Being a teacher is wonderful. I love working with children.

14. People who work with money should be honest.

15. She is working at/in/for our London office.

16. We should all work for a better world.

17. I work in that factory over there.

18. She used to work for me when I ran the sales department.

19. Both governments are working with the committee to find a solution.

20. Tim works in the IT department.