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volunteer work — unpaid help

collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon

Work that you do to help people or an organization without getting paid, usually because you want to support a cause or community.

Say it like a native

Textbook She engages in unremunerated charitable labour.

Native She does a lot of volunteer work.

Natural; 'unremunerated charitable labour' is absurd.

Pattern: do volunteer work; be involved in volunteer work

In use

  • She does volunteer work at the local animal shelter every weekend.daily life
  • In my opinion, doing volunteer work is a great way to gain experience and help the community at the same time.IELTS speaking

Common mistake

✗ I make volunteer work at the shelter.

✓ I do volunteer work at the shelter.

You DO volunteer work, not 'make' it.

Common collocations

  • do volunteer work — do, a lot of, local, involves

Don't confuse it

Not the same as 'paid work' or 'part-time job', which you get money for.

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