work on
InseparableThe verb and particle never split. The object always follows the whole phrase.
How to say it
Stress the particle, not the verb: work ON. Saying “WORK on” is the clearest learner tell — the verb stays light and the particle carries the beat.
Link across the gap. The final /k/ of “work” moves onto the particle and starts its syllable: “work on” is said “wor-kon”. Pausing between the words is what makes phrasal verbs sound recited rather than spoken.
What it means
To spend effort improving or producing something.
- “He sat down at his desk and began working on the report.”
- “I'm working on my pronunciation.”
Similar: develop, improve