[General] Do you go to duty or do you go on duty when you go to work?

Status
Not open for further replies.

Aamir Tariq

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2016
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Urdu
Home Country
Pakistan
Current Location
Pakistan
We normally say "I go to work at 8:30 in the morning".
Are you going to work today?
She didn't go to work today she was sick.


Now the question is if we want to replace the word "work" with the word "duty", so what preposition will we use "to" or "on"?

1. He goes to his duty at 9 in the morning.
(Sounds a bit unnatural to me, It should have rather been "He goes to perform his duty at 9 in the morning".

2. He goes on duty at 9 in the morning.
("He is supposed to be on duty" would sound more natural but I am asking about the situation when you leave home and head towards your place of work).

3. He goes at his duty at 9 in the morning. (We normally say "He is at work).

We say
He is at work, He is at the office. (We don't say "He is on work").
He is on duty
. (We don't say "He is at his duty").

So we use different prepositions when we talk about different actions that are being performed.
He is going to work. He is at work.

So tell me bout this.
He is going to/on/at his duty. He is on duty.

Regards
Aamir the Global Citizen
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
He starts work at 9am.
He starts his duties at 9am.

We don't use "go to duty".
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Someone can be "on duty," though that is used only in specific contexts.
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I'm not sure if you noticed, but Dave's version is "on duty" not "on his duty."

People who have shifts, like a police officer or a security guard, would go "on duty." (And "off duty.")

I get off duty at 9 pm. We can meet for a late dinner then.
What time do you go on duty?
 

GoesStation

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
You can also report for duty. A soldier might say "Aamir Tariq reporting for duty, sir!" -- though I have no idea whether that phrase is still used.
 

Aamir Tariq

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2016
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Urdu
Home Country
Pakistan
Current Location
Pakistan
Can I say.

1. I am having a good time at my duty/at duty.
2. I am having a good time on my duty/on duty.


to mean I am enjoying my duty.
 

GoesStation

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
No, it isn't natural. When you enjoy your work, you can say I enjoy my work. If your work involves being on duty (for example, staffing a reception desk at a hotel), you can say I enjoy being on duty.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
Can I say.

1. I am having a good time at my duty/at duty.
2. I am having a good time on my duty/on duty.


to mean I am enjoying my duty.

I think it would be a good idea if you stopped connecting "duty" with your "job", "work" or "profession".
 

Aamir Tariq

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2016
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Urdu
Home Country
Pakistan
Current Location
Pakistan
I think it would be a good idea if you stopped connecting "duty" with your "job", "work" or "profession".

I am not connecting them. Actually that's how they are written in the source language "Urdu" and I am having to translate them in English. So whenever any such thing comes up there in the source language I have to bring it up here to ask for your expert opinion.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top