work on a relationship

Meaning

This phrase means to actively put time, effort, and communication into resolving issues and improving a connection with someone. It is most commonly used for romantic relationships but can also apply to friendships and family.

Examples

• Every couple has disagreements, but the important thing is that they work on their relationship.

  Every couple has disagreements, but the important thing is that they work on their relationship.

• We decided to go to counseling to help us work on our relationship.

  We decided to go to counseling to help us work on our relationship.

• If both people aren't willing to work on the relationship, it probably won't survive.

  If both people aren't willing to work on the relationship, it probably won't survive.

• They've been working on their relationship for months and are doing much better now.

  They've been working on their relationship for months and are doing much better now.

• It takes daily effort to work on a relationship and keep the spark alive.

  It takes daily effort to work on a relationship and keep the spark alive.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to work our relationship.

  ✓ We need to work on our relationship.

  The preposition 'on' is essential here. Without 'on', the sentence is grammatically incorrect.

• ✗ They are making work on their relationship.

  ✓ They are working on their relationship.

  We use 'work' as a verb in this context, not as a noun phrase with 'make'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If we want this to succeed, we both have to ___.

  💡 put effort into our connection

  Show answer

  work on our relationship

• They are going to couples therapy to ___.

  💡 improve their bond

  Show answer

  work on their relationship