task
task — noun
1. an activity or job that a person needs to do, especially one that is difficult o
an activity or job that a person needs to do, especially one that is difficult or has to be finished by a particular time
Devika's first task at her new school was to find the library.
The teacher gave the class a task to finish before Friday.
collocation: give someone a task
Cleaning the kitchen took Caleb the whole morning — it was a big task.
A good leader's main task is to help every person in the team.
The night worker's task was to check that all doors were shut.
- job
more general; a task is often a specific piece of work within a job
- assignment
usually given by a teacher or employer, with a clear deadline
- chore
a small, routine task, often done at home and usually boring
- duty
a task that you must do because it is morally or legally required
文法句型
task + of + -ing
adjective + task
常見錯誤
2. a harsh criticism or telling-off that someone receives for doing something wrong
a harsh criticism or telling-off that someone receives for doing something wrong
After the failed project, the manager gave Chidi a harsh tasking in front of the team.
collocation: give someone a tasking (reprimand)
Dewi got a real tasking from her mother for coming home after midnight.
The sergeant's tasking of the new soldiers was loud and went on for several minutes.
The director gave the whole sales team a thorough tasking for missing their targets.
Nicholas got a harsh tasking from his father after he crashed the family car.
- reprimand
more formal and common in official contexts
- scolding
more common with parents and children; slightly softer
- telling-off
informal, very common in British English
文法句型
give + someone + a tasking
get + a tasking
用法筆記
This sense is most common in the phrase 'give someone a tasking' or in the idiom 'take someone to task'. Outside of these patterns, it is rare in modern English.
常見錯誤
task — verb
1. to assign a particular job or duty to a person, requiring them to complete it
to assign a particular job or duty to a person, requiring them to complete it
The manager tasked Devika with planning the office party.
pattern: task + someone + with + noun
Mateo was tasked with buying food for the team lunch.
The group tasked itself with finding a new place for the monthly meeting.
The hospital tasked Noor with training the new nurses on the night shift.
Élise was tasked with writing a short report about last year's sales.
- assign
more general; can be used with tasks, rooms, seats, etc.
- entrust
implies trust and responsibility; more formal
- charge with
formal, often used in legal or official contexts
文法句型
task + someone + with + noun/-ing
用法筆記
Almost always used with 'with' followed by a noun or -ing form. The passive construction ('be tasked with') is very common.