B1 phrase 2 Min. Lesezeit

努力奋斗

To work hard and strive means to put a lot of effort into achieving a difficult goal.

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Explanation at your level:

You work hard when you do a lot of work. You strive when you want something very much. Together, it means you are a very good worker who wants to reach a goal. You study English every day, so you are working hard and striving!

When you have a big goal, you need to work hard. Striving means you try your best even when things are difficult. If you want to learn to play the guitar, you must practice every day. That is working hard and striving for your dream.

To work hard and strive is to show dedication. It is not just about doing tasks; it is about having a vision. People who work hard and strive often achieve their goals because they do not give up when they face a problem. It is a positive way to describe someone's character.

This phrase is often used in professional contexts to describe a strong work ethic. It implies a sense of ambition. When you say someone 'works hard and strives for success,' you are highlighting their persistence. It is a nuanced way to say that someone is not just active, but also purposeful.

In advanced English, this phrase can be used to describe the human condition—the constant pursuit of improvement. It suggests a high level of agency. Whether in academic research or creative endeavors, 'working hard and striving' denotes a trajectory of growth. It is a sophisticated way to frame one's career path or personal development.

The usage of 'strive' carries a slightly literary or elevated weight compared to 'work hard.' When combined, they create a rhythmic balance that is often found in speeches or formal biographies. It captures the intersection of labor and aspiration. It acknowledges that the path to mastery is paved with both effort and the internal drive to reach beyond one's current limitations.

Wort in 30 Sekunden

  • To work hard means to put in effort.
  • To strive means to aim for a goal.
  • Together they imply purposeful effort.
  • Use them to show ambition and grit.

When we say someone is working hard and striving, we are talking about more than just being busy. It is about having a goal and putting your heart into it.

Think of it as the difference between just walking and climbing a mountain. Striving adds that extra layer of passion and grit to your daily tasks.

It is a phrase often used to describe people who are ambitious and resilient. Whether you are studying for an exam or starting a business, this phrase captures the spirit of persistent effort.

The word strive comes from the Old French estriver, which meant to struggle or contend. It has roots in Germanic languages, reflecting a long history of human effort.

The phrase work hard is a classic English pairing that emphasizes the physical or mental toll of labor. Over time, combining these two concepts created a powerful way to describe a dedicated work ethic.

Historically, this language was used in literature to describe heroes who faced great odds. Today, it is used in professional and personal development contexts to highlight the journey of success.

You can use this phrase in both professional and casual settings. It sounds great in a cover letter when you say, 'I have always worked hard and striven for excellence.'

Commonly, it is paired with words like success, goals, or dreams. For example, 'She continues to work hard and strive for a better future.'

While work hard is very common, adding strive elevates the tone. It makes your statement sound more intentional and aspirational.

Go the extra mile: Doing more than what is expected.

Burn the midnight oil: Working late into the night.

Put your nose to the grindstone: To work very hard for a long period.

Give it your all: To exert maximum effort.

Roll up your sleeves: To prepare for hard work.

This is a verbal phrase. You can change the tense: 'He works hard and strives' or 'They worked hard and strove'.

The word strive is an irregular verb. Its past tense is strove and the past participle is striven.

Pronunciation: /tuː wɜːrk hɑːrd ænd straɪv/. The stress is usually balanced across the phrase, but emphasize 'hard' and 'strive' for impact.

Fun Fact

The word 'strive' originally implied a physical contest or battle.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /tuː wɜːk hɑːd ænd straɪv/

Crisp 'r' sounds, clear 'strive'.

US /tuː wɜːrk hɑːrd ænd straɪv/

Strong rhotic 'r', clear vowels.

Common Errors

  • Pronouncing 'strive' as 'streeve'
  • Dropping the 'r' in 'work'
  • Confusing 'hard' with 'heart'

Rhymes With

drive hive alive thrive dive

Difficulty Rating

Lesen 2/5

Easy to understand.

Writing 2/5

Simple to use.

Speaking 2/5

Commonly used.

Hören 2/5

Clear pronunciation.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

work hard goal try

Learn Next

diligent ambition persistence perseverance

Fortgeschritten

endeavor assiduous tenacity

Grammar to Know

Infinitive of purpose

He works to learn.

Irregular verbs

strive-strove-striven

Adverb usage

He works hard.

Examples by Level

1

I work hard every day.

I / work hard / every day

Simple present tense.

2

He strives to be good.

He / tries / to be / good

Third person singular 's'.

3

They work hard together.

They / work / hard / together

Adverb 'hard'.

4

I want to strive for success.

I want / to try / for / success

Infinitive verb.

5

She works hard at school.

She / works / hard / at school

Prepositional phrase.

6

We work hard to learn.

We / work / hard / to learn

Purpose clause.

7

Do you work hard?

Do / you / work / hard

Question structure.

8

I strive to be happy.

I / try / to be / happy

Infinitive.

1

She works hard to finish her homework.

2

He strives to win the race.

3

They work hard for their family.

4

I strive to be a better person.

5

We work hard every summer.

6

He works hard at his new job.

7

She strives to learn new things.

8

They work hard to save money.

1

The team works hard and strives for victory.

2

She has always worked hard and striven for excellence.

3

If you work hard and strive, you will succeed.

4

He works hard and strives to improve his skills.

5

Students should work hard and strive for their dreams.

6

They work hard and strive to make a difference.

7

I work hard and strive to meet my deadlines.

8

We work hard and strive to be honest.

1

He is known for working hard and striving for perfection.

2

She works hard and strives to overcome every obstacle.

3

To reach the top, you must work hard and strive daily.

4

They work hard and strive to maintain high standards.

5

I admire people who work hard and strive for greatness.

6

He works hard and strives to balance his life.

7

She works hard and strives to lead by example.

8

We work hard and strive to innovate in our field.

1

The candidate works hard and strives to articulate a clear vision.

2

She works hard and strives to transcend her previous limitations.

3

It is essential to work hard and strive for equity in the workplace.

4

He works hard and strives to cultivate a culture of integrity.

5

They work hard and strive to achieve sustainable growth.

6

I work hard and strive to remain focused on the long-term goal.

7

She works hard and strives to master the complexities of her craft.

8

We work hard and strive to push the boundaries of our knowledge.

1

The artist works hard and strives to capture the essence of the human spirit.

2

He works hard and strives to reconcile his ideals with reality.

3

She works hard and strives to leave a legacy of compassion.

4

They work hard and strive to navigate the challenges of a global market.

5

I work hard and strive to embody the values I preach.

6

He works hard and strives to achieve a state of flow in his work.

7

She works hard and strives to maintain equilibrium under pressure.

8

We work hard and strive to foster innovation through relentless inquiry.

Häufige Kollokationen

strive for excellence
work hard at
strive to achieve
work hard to finish
strive for success
work hard for a living
strive to improve
work hard every day
strive for balance
work hard to succeed

Idioms & Expressions

"Break a sweat"

To work hard.

He didn't even break a sweat.

casual

"Give it your all"

To try as hard as possible.

You must give it your all.

neutral

"Keep your nose to the grindstone"

To work hard consistently.

Keep your nose to the grindstone.

casual

"Burn the midnight oil"

To work late.

She burned the midnight oil.

neutral

"Pull your weight"

To do your fair share of work.

Everyone needs to pull their weight.

neutral

"Go the extra mile"

To do more than required.

He always goes the extra mile.

neutral

Easily Confused

努力奋斗 vs Hardly

Looks like 'hard'.

Hardly means 'almost not'.

I hardly slept vs I worked hard.

努力奋斗 vs Strife

Sounds like 'strive'.

Strife is a noun meaning conflict.

The country was in strife.

努力奋斗 vs Strive

Often confused with 'strove'.

Strive is present, strove is past.

I strive now, I strove then.

努力奋斗 vs Thrive

Sounds like 'strive'.

Thrive means to grow well.

Plants thrive in the sun.

Sentence Patterns

A2

Subject + works hard + to + verb

He works hard to succeed.

B1

Subject + strives + for + noun

She strives for perfection.

B1

Subject + strives + to + verb

They strive to improve.

B2

Work hard + and + strive + for + noun

Work hard and strive for your dreams.

A2

Always + work hard + and + strive

Always work hard and strive.

Wortfamilie

Nouns

striving the act of trying hard

Verbs

strive to try hard

Adjectives

hard-working diligent

Verwandt

effort noun form of working hard

How to Use It

frequency

8

Formality Scale

Endeavor (Formal) Strive (Neutral) Work hard (Neutral) Hustle (Casual)

Häufige Fehler

Striving to work → Working hard and striving
Strive usually takes an object or infinitive, not 'to work'.
Work hardly → Work hard
'Hardly' means 'almost not'.
Strived vs Strove → Strove
Strove is the traditional past tense.
Work hard at to → Work hard at
Don't double up prepositions.
Strive for to → Strive for
Strive for a noun, strive to for a verb.

Tips

💡

Memory Palace Trick

Visualize a goal at the top of a hill and you climbing it.

💡

When Native Speakers Use It

In speeches or motivational talks.

🌍

Cultural Insight

Reflects the 'American Dream' work ethic.

💡

Grammar Shortcut

Strive + to (verb) / strive + for (noun).

💡

Say It Right

Ensure the 'v' in strive is voiced.

💡

Don't Make This Mistake

Avoid 'hardly' when you mean 'hard'.

💡

Did You Know?

Strive is related to the word 'strife' (conflict).

💡

Study Smart

Write 3 goals using the word 'strive'.

💡

Professional Tone

Use this in your CV.

💡

Rhyme Time

Practice with 'drive' and 'thrive'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Strive to drive your success.

Visual Association

A person climbing a steep mountain.

Word Web

Success Goal Effort Persistence

Herausforderung

Use the phrase in a sentence today.

Wortherkunft

Germanic / French

Original meaning: Strive: to struggle; Work: to labor

Kultureller Kontext

None, universally positive.

Highly valued in Western cultures, especially in business and education.

'Strive for greatness' - common sports motto Various self-help books

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At work

  • strive for efficiency
  • work hard on the project
  • strive to meet targets

At school

  • work hard on assignments
  • strive for high grades
  • strive to learn

Sports

  • strive for victory
  • work hard in training
  • strive to be the best

Personal life

  • strive for happiness
  • work hard for a family
  • strive to be kind

Conversation Starters

"What are you currently striving to achieve?"

"Do you think working hard is enough for success?"

"What is something you have worked hard for recently?"

"Who is someone you know that works hard and strives?"

"How do you stay motivated when you strive for a goal?"

Journal Prompts

Write about a time you worked hard for something.

What are your main goals that you are striving for?

How do you balance working hard and resting?

Describe a person you admire who works hard and strives.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

8 Fragen

It is slightly more formal than 'try', but common in everyday speech.

They have different nuances; 'work hard' is about labor, 'strive' is about intent.

Strove or strived (both are used).

Yes, it is very common in mission statements.

Use 'strive to' + verb.

Use 'strive for' + noun.

No, it is a literal phrase.

Yes, it is grammatically correct.

Teste dich selbst

fill blank A1

I ___ hard every day.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: work

Standard phrase.

multiple choice A2

What does 'strive' mean?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: To try hard

Striving is about effort.

true false B1

Strive is an irregular verb.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Richtig

Past tense is strove.

match pairs B1

Word

Bedeutung

All matched!

Definitions match.

sentence order B2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:

I strive for success.

fill blank B2

She ___ for excellence.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: strove

Past tense fits.

multiple choice C1

Which is a synonym for strive?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Endeavor

Endeavor is formal.

true false C1

Hardly means very hard.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

Hardly means almost not.

match pairs C2

Word

Bedeutung

All matched!

Nuanced meanings.

sentence order C2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:

Work hard and strive to.

Ergebnis: /10

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