housework and homework

Difference between HOMEWORK and HOUSEWORK

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What’s the difference between homework and housework ?

These two words seem practically identical, but they actually have separate meanings and uses. I’ll clarify that in today’s lesson, so that you can be sure to use the right word.

And at the end I’ll also tell you about a common mistake that English learners often make with homework and housework.

How to use HOMEWORK in English

Homework refers to schoolwork that you do at home.

So if you’re in class, your teacher might give you homework – maybe a worksheet, maybe a book/article to read, maybe an exercise to do or something to research – and then you do that homework outside of class, at home.

Homework is usually extra practice or an additional assignment to help you practice what you learned inside class, or take your learning further.

How to use HOUSEWORK in English

Housework refers to the physical tasks that are necessary to take care of your house or apartment , the place where you live. We usually use housework to refer to cooking, cleaning, and laundry (washing your clothes).

So homework is schoolwork you do at home, and housework involves maintaining your living space.

What about “chores”?

One of my students asked if the word chores means the same thing as housework.

Yes – chores is another word we can use for those things that you have to do around the house. Washing dishes, sweeping the floor, cleaning the toilet, and so on. You probably don’t really enjoy them, but they need to get done.

And it’s also common to use this word chores you have a parent who makes their children help with these tasks. So the parent would say, “you have to do your chores.” You need to do those things around the house that you’re responsible for, like cleaning up your room or maybe helping with the laundry.

HOMEWORK and HOUSEWORK are always singular!

Now here’s an important detail – the word chore is countable, so you can have one chore, two chores, three chores, or a lot of chores to do.

But homework and housework are BOTH considered uncountable . So we always use them in the singular, always homework and housework, never homeworks or houseworks.

They are singular even when they refer to multiple tasks. So even if you have multiple assignments to do and multiple things to do in your house, it’s still only homework and housework.

You can talk about general quantity by saying a little homework/housework or a lot of homework/housework – but don’t use numbers, like “three homeworks,” and don’t add an S, “a lot of houseworks” – it’s not correct.

WORK / WORKS

This rule also applies to the word “work” – most of the time it’s singular.

Don’t say “I have a lot of works to do.” – the correct way would be “I have a lot of work to do.” You can say tasks, you can say projects, you can say assignments, you can say things – those can all be plural, but work is typically singular.

There’s one situation where we can say “works” and that’s specifically when we’re talking about works of art, works of music, or works of literature. So when we’re talking about productions in the artistic world, then sometimes we use works in the plural. For example, this is one of Picasso’s greatest works of art.

But in everyday life, when talking about the work you have to do, it’s always work, singular and same with homework and housework, singular.

Now you know the difference between homework and housework – and remember, doing homework is really important for reviewing and practicing what you learn!

A lot of our courses at Espresso English include homework. Sometimes that’s a quiz so you can test yourself on the lesson, and sometimes the homework is a writing task or speaking task where you can send your answers to our teaching team and get correction and feedback.

Our students often find this the most valuable part of our courses, because then you’re not just watching or reading or listening to me in English, but you’re also using English yourself. It really makes a difference in helping you learn and remember better.

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• English (US)

What is the difference between home work and homework and housework ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.

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Answer: 7406

home work and homework are the same. Homework with no space is correct. homework = schoolwork that a student is required to do while they are not in the classroom. housework = chores that you do when you are at your house like washing clothes, washing the dishes, cleaning the toilets, etc.

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Quality Point(s): 3198

Answer: 861

Homework is not required to be done at home; it's just not done in class. It can even be done in the school cafeteria or library (and often is.)

Quality Point(s): 16

Homework is the same as home work which is schoolwork for home housework is like cleaning

• English (UK)

Quality Point(s): 0

Your explanation regarding the difference between "which" and "what" in relative clauses was incredibly helpful and cleared up a common confusion. I also found the examples you provided to be practical and easy to understand. For those looking to enhance their language skills further, exploring resources like this list https://finance.yahoo.com/news/7-best-u-website... of the best U.S. websites for writing could be an excellent way to practice and improve. Your insightful response coupled with such external tools makes the learning process much more comprehensive and enjoyable.

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• Confused Words

Confused Words: Homework vs. Housework

Hi learners! Today we’ll delve into an interesting English language topic. We’re going to differentiate between the terms “ Homework ” and “ Housework “. Both words seem similar but have distinct meanings and uses. Let’s go!

“ Homework ” (IPA: /ˈhoʊmˌwɜːrk/) refers to tasks assigned to students by their teachers, intended to be completed outside of class, generally at home.

Here are 10 examples:

• The teacher gave us a lot of homework today. (The teacher assigned many tasks)
• I need to finish my math homework before dinner. (I need to complete my math tasks)
• She is diligent about completing her homework every day. (She is conscientious about doing her school assignments)
• He stayed up late to complete his homework . (He stayed up late to finish his school tasks)
• Can you help me with my English homework ? (Can you help me with my English assignments)
• I have homework over the weekend. (I have school tasks to do over the weekend)
• She forgot her homework at home. (She forgot her school assignments at home)
• He was punished for not doing his homework . (He was punished for not completing his school tasks)
• The homework is due tomorrow. (The school tasks need to be completed by tomorrow)
• Our homework involves researching climate change. (Our school assignment involves researching climate change)

Housework ” (IPA: /ˈhaʊsˌwɜːrk/), on the other hand , refers to the general cleaning or maintenance tasks done in a house or apartment.

• I have a lot of housework to do this weekend. (I have many cleaning or maintenance tasks)
• He helps his mother with the housework . (He assists his mother with home chores)
• She dislikes doing housework . (She dislikes cleaning and maintaining the house)
• Can you help me with the housework ? (Can you help me with the home chores)
• We share the housework equally. (We share the cleaning and maintenance tasks)
• He hired a maid to do the housework . (He hired a maid to perform the home chores)
• Washing dishes is part of my housework . (Washing dishes is one of my home chores)
• She does the housework every Sunday. (She does the home chores every Sunday)
• I finished my housework early today. (I finished my cleaning and maintenance tasks early)
• They believe in sharing housework responsibilities. (They believe in sharing home chores)

The distinction between “ Homework ” and “ Housework ” is now clear. “Homework” refers to school assignments completed outside the class, while “Housework” refers to cleaning or maintenance tasks performed at home. Understanding these differences will help refine your English usage.

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What’s the difference between homework and housework?

This week we are looking at two words which are commonly confused because of their similar spellings: homework and housework .

Homework  is work that school pupils are given to do at home. You say that pupils ‘ do homework ’. You don’t say that they ` make homework ‘.

Have you done your English  homework ?

Homework is an uncountable noun.

Housework  is work such as cleaning or washing that is done in a house.

She relied on us to do most of the  housework .

Housework is an uncountable noun.

Find out more in our English Usage article .

This blogpost is based on Collins COBUILD English Usage , written for learners of English. For more examples of English usage points, please visit:   https://grammar.collinsdictionary.com/english-usage .

All opinions expressed on this blog are those of the individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company, HarperCollins.

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Homework vs. housework.

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Jan 18, 2021

What’s the difference between  homework  and  housework ? These two words seem practically identical, but they actually have separate meanings and uses. I’ll explain in today’s lesson, so that you can be sure to use the right word. And at the end I’ll also tell you about a common mistake that English learners often make with homework and housework.

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English Vocabulary: Housework – Dishes, Errands, Laundry…

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21 comments.

I got a 10 out of 10 and added a few more words to my vocabulary. Thanks Emma!

It is been a fruitful and interesting lesson. Thank you Emma.

Very well explained. However, I still made a few mistakes in the quiz. For my trouble, I will DO the dishes unless I can punish my child for not DOING his homework and make him DO the household chores. I used the translator but I am still in doubt: do the dishes or do the dishes? Thank you, brilliant teacher.

10/10 The lesson is great!

Thank you! 10/10

Thank you for the opportunity to consolidate the material.

I’m excited about it. I learned a lot.

Thank you, Emma! Have a good week!

it’s so clearness

Thanks a million. Emma! Everyday, I make dinner, do to dishee. Sometimes it’s very annoying.

Hi Emma :) Great video as always :) You and Alex are my favourite teachers from Engvid :) Will there ever be a video with your sister, Audra? I’d like to see you both :) Best wishes :)

Thanks Emma !!

Thank you Emma! That was a nice video, good job!!

thank you very much! I liked it.

Thank you very much

Thank You Very Much teacher

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