Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

yoshi-pooh · Joined: 04 May 2006 Posts: 195

Hi, everyone!

When you mean you want to get a new job and quit the current one, which of the following sentences would be correct?

1. I want to change a job.
2. I want to change jobs.
3. I want to change my job.
4. I want to change my jobs.

Thank you!

yoshi-pooh

pinenut · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 165 Location: Illinois, U.S.A.

buddhaheart · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 10:02 am Post subject: Re: change...

Lorikeet · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 1877 Location: San Francisco

I can't explain why, but "I want to change my job." and "I want to change jobs." both sound okay. Perhaps the plural job refers to the current and the new one.

yoshi-pooh · Joined: 04 May 2006 Posts: 195

Dear pinenut, buddhaheart, and Lorikeet,

Thanks for your replies. I'm still cofused, though.

I understand you say, "I changed trains" when you got off a train and got on another at a station. If the same logic is applied to the case of "job", I think it might be okay to say, "I changed jobs" and Lorileet says this sounds correct.

1. I want to change a job.
2. I want to change jobs.
3. I want to change my job.
4. I want to change my jobs.

Having read your replies, now I understand that #1 and #4 are wrong. But what about the remaining two:#2 and #3? Are they equally okay? Or would either of them be better for ESL learners to use?

Thank you.

yoshi-pooh

Having read your replies,

pinenut · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 165 Location: Illinois, U.S.A.