Cool MateFull-time vs Permanent vs Regular
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Full-time
Permanent
Regular
| Full-time | Permanent | Regular | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌfʊl ˈtaɪm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌfʊl ˈtaɪm/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpɜːmənənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpɜːrmənənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈreɡjələ(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈreɡjələr/"]/ |
| Meaning | Working all the hours of a regular job, usually 40 hours a week. | Lasting forever or a long time without changing. | Something that happens often or follows a usual pattern. |
| Example | The referee blew his whistle for full time. | The tattoo on her arm is a permanent reminder of her travels. | I go to the gym on a regular basis to stay fit. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | full-time job, full-time employee, full-time position | be, prove, seem, almost, relatively, seemingly | be, highly, very, perfectly, be, seem, become, very, fairly, pretty, at regular intervals, on a regular basis, be, seem, become, very, fairly, pretty, at regular intervals, on a regular basis, be, seem, fairly, pretty, perfectly, be, highly, very, perfectly |
| Antonyms | part-time, temporary | temporary, transient, fleeting | irregular, unusual, occasional |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'part-time', which means working fewer hours., Using it to describe unpaid work, which isn't usually correct., Misplacing the hyphen, writing 'full time' instead of 'full-time'. | Confused with 'temporary' which means the opposite., Using it to describe things that are not fixed like temporary jobs., Spelling errors or misuse of similar-sounding words. | Confusing 'regular' with 'regularly' (adverb), Using 'regular' in a negative structure incorrectly, like 'not regular' instead of 'irregular', Overusing 'regular' instead of more specific adjectives like 'standard' or 'common' |
| Usage notes | Usually used in job descriptions or discussions about work hours. Not typically used in informal contexts. | Use 'permanent' when something is fixed or unchangeable. It's suitable for both formal and everyday contexts, but avoid using it when speaking about temporary situations. | Used to describe things that are common or expected. In formal writing, be cautious with synonyms like 'consistent' for precision. Avoid in casual contexts where 'usual' or 'typical' might be clearer. |
Frequently asked questions: Full-time vs Permanent vs Regular
What's the difference between Full-time, Permanent, and Regular?
Full-time: Working all the hours of a regular job, usually 40 hours a week. Permanent: Lasting forever or a long time without changing. Regular: Something that happens often or follows a usual pattern.
Which is more common: Full-time, Permanent, and Regular?
Regular is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Full-time, Permanent, and Regular?
Permanent is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Full-time, Permanent, and Regular the same CEFR level?
Full-time: B1, Permanent: B2, Regular: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Full-time, Permanent, and Regular?
Full-time: noun, Permanent: adjective, Regular: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Full-time: The referee blew his whistle for full time. Permanent: The tattoo on her arm is a permanent reminder of her travels. Regular: I go to the gym on a regular basis to stay fit.
Can I use Full-time, Permanent, and Regular interchangeably?
Not always. Full-time, Permanent, and Regular are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.