volunteer
volunteer — noun
1. a person who freely offers to do work or help others without expecting any money
a person who freely offers to do work or help others without expecting any money in return, typically for a charity, community group, or public-service event.
Tamar works as a volunteer at the animal shelter every Saturday morning.
collocation: volunteer at [place]
The hospital relies on volunteers to help families find their way around the building.
Eshe signed up to be a volunteer for the local food bank last spring.
The festival was run entirely by volunteers from the neighbourhood.
Volunteers cleared rubbish from the beach after the storm.
- helper
less formal; does not always imply unpaid work
- unpaid worker
emphasises the lack of pay more explicitly
- paid worker
someone who receives wages or a salary
- employee
a person hired for wages, not freely offering their time
文法句型
volunteer + for/in/at + [place/organisation]
用法筆記
Countable noun. Often followed by a prepositional phrase with for, at, or in to indicate the organisation or setting.
常見錯誤
2. a person who enters military service of their own free will, without being order
a person who enters military service of their own free will, without being ordered to do so by a government law that requires all citizens to serve.
Minho joined the navy as a volunteer after graduating from high school.
collocation: join as a volunteer
During the war many young men became volunteers instead of waiting to be drafted.
The army's volunteer programme offers more training choices than the conscript system.
A volunteer in the air force must pass several physical and written tests.
文法句型
volunteer + in/for + [armed force]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (UNPAID HELPER): this sense is specifically military. Use conscript or draftee as the opposite.
常見錯誤
volunteer — verb
1. to say that you are willing to do a job or carry out a duty, particularly one th
to say that you are willing to do a job or carry out a duty, particularly one that nobody has told you to do and for which you will not be paid.
Dario volunteered to clean up the park after the community festival ended.
pattern: volunteer + to-infinitive
Lakshmi volunteered her weekend mornings at the children's library for three months.
pattern: volunteer + noun phrase + at [place]
When the teacher asked for help with the class trip, several parents volunteered.
The café volunteered to provide free sandwiches for the shelter's annual dinner.
Alessia volunteered at the community garden every weekend last summer.
- offer
broader; does not imply unpaid or community work
- step forward
phrasal; suggests volunteering in a group setting
- sign up
phrasal; suggests formally registering for a role
文法句型
volunteer to + infinitive
volunteer + noun phrase (time/money/skills)
volunteer for + noun
用法筆記
Often used with the to-infinitive (volunteered to help) or with for (volunteered for the task). The object may be time, skills, money, or the person's own services.
常見錯誤
2. to share facts, a personal view, or a response with someone even though nobody h
to share facts, a personal view, or a response with someone even though nobody has requested that you speak.
No one asked him, but Mark volunteered the details of his travel plans anyway.
contrast: no one asked — yet volunteered
Heloísa volunteered an explanation before the manager could ask what had gone wrong.
During the meeting Ezra volunteered his opinion on the proposed budget changes.
The witness volunteered a crucial piece of information to the police officer.
文法句型
volunteer + noun phrase (information/opinion/answer)
用法筆記
The object is always information of some kind — an opinion, detail, explanation, or answer. Unlike sense 1, this sense does NOT take an infinitive or a for-phrase.
常見錯誤
volunteer — adjective
1. describes work, a position, or an activity that is done by people who freely giv
describes work, a position, or an activity that is done by people who freely give their time without being paid for it.
Yuna does volunteer work at a children's hospital every Sunday afternoon.
collocation: volunteer work
The school's volunteer programme pairs students with elderly neighbours who need help.
collocation: volunteer programme
Christopher received a certificate for his volunteer service to the community centre.
The organisation depends entirely on volunteer labour to run its daily operations.
A volunteer position at the museum is a great way to gain experience in art history.
- paid
work done for wages or a salary
- compulsory
required by law or rules, not freely chosen
文法句型
volunteer + noun (work/service/position)
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive position). Cannot be used predicatively: ❌ 'This work is volunteer.' ✅ 'This work is voluntary.' or 'This is volunteer work.'