Meaning & use
service
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
Work done by one person or organization to help another, often as a job.
Grammar: Can be countable ('a service') or uncountable ('good service').
Patterns
- provide a service
- offer services
- a service to someone
The company provides a range of financial services.
We offer a free delivery service.
Her services to the community were recognized.
nouncountable
A religious ceremony or formal act of worship.
Grammar: Countable: a service, Sunday services.
Patterns
- attend a service
- hold a service
- a funeral service
They attended a memorial service for the victims.
The church holds three services on Sunday.
verbtransitive
To maintain or repair a machine or vehicle regularly.
Grammar: Takes an object: service the car.
Patterns
- service a car
- service a machine
- get something serviced
I need to get my car serviced next week.
The elevator is serviced every six months.
Word forms
| plural | services |
|---|---|
| third person singular | services |
| past tense | serviced |
| past participle | serviced |
| -ing form | servicing |
Common combinations
- customer service
- The store is known for its excellent customer service.
- military service
- He completed two years of military service.
- service charge
- A 10% service charge is added to the bill.
- public service
- She works in public service as a teacher.
- service station
- We stopped at a service station to refuel.
Synonyms and how they differ
- help
- More general and less formal; service often implies an organized or professional activity.
- assistance
- Formal; service can also mean a system or business that provides something.
Word family
- serve verb
- To work for or provide something to someone.
- servant noun
- A person employed to work in someone's home.
- serviceable adjective
- Usable and in good enough condition.
Commonly confused: service or servicing?
service vs servicing
The -ing form is used for the action; 'service' is the noun or base verb.
Practice
The restaurant is famous for its excellent _____.
Choose one answer.
'Service' is the noun meaning help or assistance provided to customers. 'Servicing' is the -ing form (action), 'servant' is a person, and 'serve' is a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “service”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.