work such overtime/ work such long hours

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moonlike

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Hi
In the following exercise:
"He works such overtime/ long hours, that he should get a pay rise", the correct answer is 'long hours'. However, I really don't know what the problem is with the other alternative. Is there a problem regarding grammar or meaning?

Thanks a million.
 

bhaisahab

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Hi
In the following exercise:
"He works such overtime/ long hours, that he should get a pay rise", the correct answer is 'long hours'. However, I really don't know what the problem is with the other alternative. Is there a problem regarding grammar or meaning?

Thanks a million.

"He works such a lot of overtime."
"He works such long hours."
 

emsr2d2

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He works so much overtime ...
He works such long hours ...
 

moonlike

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Thanks ems and bahi. You mean based on collocation and the meaning it''s not possible to say 'such overtime'. As we can use 'such' with a noun or a noun phrase. Like 'such weather, to be of such importance, such a girl,etc.'

Thanks a lot.
 

SoothingDave

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In AmE, when one works "overtime" one is usually paid extra, at a higher rate. So the original sentence does not make sense in that respect.
 

emsr2d2

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Sadly, there are many places where people do loads of unpaid overtime just to get their actual job done. In my previous job, I was paid at time and a half every time I worked a Saturday, double time every time I worked a Sunday, and double time for any hours over 42.5 in one week.
In my current job, I am only paid at plain time (normal hourly rate) for any extra hours and I have to work an extra 15 minutes in order to get any more money at all.
Unfortunately, the original sentence makes a lot of sense in a lot of places.
 

SoothingDave

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Sadly, there are many places where people do loads of unpaid overtime just to get their actual job done. In my previous job, I was paid at time and a half every time I worked a Saturday, double time every time I worked a Sunday, and double time for any hours over 42.5 in one week.
In my current job, I am only paid at plain time (normal hourly rate) for any extra hours and I have to work an extra 15 minutes in order to get any more money at all.
Unfortunately, the original sentence makes a lot of sense in a lot of places.

Unpaid overtime happens for salaried employees in the US, but for wage earners they must be paid for each hour they work.
 
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