- Have you ever wondered if you should say “worth to visit” or “worth visiting”?
- Do you struggle to describe the value of a professional project or a personal investment?
- Are you looking for ways to sound more like a native speaker when discussing price and importance?
Mastering Worth Collocations is a game-changer for English learners. In English, “worth” doesn’t just describe money; it describes value, effort, and time. Because “worth” behaves differently than other adjectives—often acting like a preposition—learning the specific word combinations (collocations) used by native speakers will help you avoid common grammatical traps and speak with much higher fluency.
Common Collocations with Worth as an Adjective
In most modern contexts, “worth” functions as a predicative adjective. It is unique because it is usually followed directly by a noun phrase or a gerund (-ing form), rather than an infinitive.
Degree Adverbs with Worth
We often use specific adverbs to emphasize how much value something has. Note that we rarely use “very” directly with worth.
- Well worth: “The museum is well worth a visit if you are in London.”
- Definitely worth: “It is definitely worth seeing the sunrise at the coast.”
- Hardly worth: “It is hardly worth repairing this old phone; it’s better to buy a new one.”
- Thoroughly worth: “The long hike was thoroughly worth the effort for that view.”
Worth + Verb (-ing) Patterns
This is the most common area for learner errors. Always use the “-ing” form after “worth.”
- Worth doing: “If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.”
- Worth mentioning: “It is worth mentioning that the deadline has been moved.”
- Worth considering: “Your proposal is definitely worth considering at the next meeting.”
- Worth noting: “It is worth noting that prices fluctuate during the holiday season.”
Worth + Value/Effort Nouns
These collocations describe what kind of “payment” (time, money, or energy) makes sense for the result.
- Worth the wait: “The food took an hour to arrive, but it was worth the wait.”
- Worth the trouble: “Organizing a big party is a lot of work, but the joy it brings is worth the trouble.”
- Worth the risk: “Starting a new business is scary, but for many, it is worth the risk.”
- Worth the price: “This high-quality coat is expensive, but it is certainly worth the price.”
Essential Collocations using Worth as a Noun
When “worth” is used as a noun, it typically refers to the inherent value of a person or the amount of something that fits into a specific time or value container.
Financial and Personal Value
- Net worth: “The CEO’s net worth increased significantly after the company went public.”
- Prove one’s worth: “The new intern proved her worth by solving a problem no one else could fix.”
- Sense of worth: “Volunteering can give people a greater sense of self-worth.”
- Estimated worth: “The estimated worth of the painting is over five million dollars.”
Quantifying Amounts (Time/Money)
In this structure, we often use the possessive form (apostrophe + s) to show an amount of time.
- A week’s worth: “I bought a week’s worth of groceries on Sunday.”
- A lifetime’s worth: “He has accumulated a lifetime’s worth of wisdom.”
- A dollar’s worth: “In the 1950s, a dollar’s worth of candy was a huge amount.”
- Years’ worth: “The hard drive contained ten years’ worth of family photos.”
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Well worth | Adjective + Adverb | Very much deserving of the time/money spent. |
| Worth doing | Adjective + Gerund | The action provides a good result for the effort. |
| Net worth | Noun Phrase | The total value of everything a person owns. |
| Worth the effort | Adjective + Noun | The result justifies the hard work. |
| A day’s worth | Noun Phrase | An amount that lasts for or happens in one day. |
| Hardly worth | Adverb + Adjective | Almost not deserving of any attention or effort. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| It is worth to see the movie. | It is worth seeing the movie. |
| The car is worth of $5,000. | The car is worth $5,000. |
| It’s very worth it. | It’s well worth it. |
| Is it worth the travel? | Is it worth the trip? (or “worth the journey”) |
| I put a month worth of work. | I put a month’s worth of work into this. |
Contextual Story
“When I first started my startup, many people told me it wasn’t worth the risk. I spent years’ worth of savings to get the product launched. It was a difficult period, and I had to prove my worth to investors every single day. However, looking back at our success now, the long nights were well worth the effort. It is worth noting that without my team’s dedication, we never would have achieved such a high net worth in just three years.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Worth Collocations
Is it “worth to buy” or “worth buying”?
In modern English, you should always use the gerund (-ing) form. “Worth buying” is correct. Using the infinitive “to buy” is a common error for ESL learners because other adjectives like “happy” use the infinitive (e.g., “happy to help”).
What is the difference between “worth” and “worthy”?
“Worth” is usually followed by the value or action (worth $10, worth seeing). “Worthy” is more formal and is usually followed by “of” (worthy of praise, worthy of attention). “Worthy” suggests a moral or qualitative deservingness.
Can I say something is “very worth it”?
While you might hear this in very casual, informal speech, it is grammatically non-standard. To sound more natural and professional, use “well worth it,” “really worth it,” or “definitely worth it.”
When do I use “worth it” instead of just “worth”?
We use “worth it” when the thing we are talking about has already been mentioned. For example: “The hike was hard, but it was worth it.” We use “worth” when we follow it with the specific value: “The hike was worth the struggle.”
Is “worth” a preposition or an adjective?
Linguists often call “worth” a “prepositional adjective.” It acts like an adjective because it follows the verb “to be,” but it acts like a preposition because it can take an object (a noun or gerund) directly without “of” or “to.”
I often see 'not worth it' in informal texts. Is there a more formal way to say something isn't worth the effort?
The museum example 'well worth a visit' vs 'well worth visiting' is a good one. Are they both equally common or is one preferred?
That's an excellent observation, Kenji! Both 'well worth a visit' (noun phrase) and 'well worth visiting' (gerund) are completely natural and very commonly used by native speakers. The choice often comes down to slight stylistic preference or flow in a sentence, but neither is inherently 'more correct' or preferred over the other. Great insight!
Is there any context where 'worth to [infinitive]' would ever be correct? Or is it always wrong?
That's a great question, Maria, seeking to understand the absolute boundaries! In modern standard English, especially when expressing value or merit, 'worth to + infinitive' is considered ungrammatical. The correct construction is always 'worth + gerund' or 'worth + noun phrase.' So, for practical purposes, it's best to avoid it entirely in this context.
I was looking for ways to discuss investments and project value more accurately. This article gave me the precise phrases I needed. 'Well worth the investment' sounds very professional.
My biggest takeaway is 'worth' acting like a preposition. That mental model makes so much sense for why it takes the -ing form. Brilliant!
We're thrilled that analogy resonates with you, Anya! Thinking of 'worth' as sometimes behaving prepositionally is indeed a powerful way to remember its unique grammatical patterns. It simplifies what can otherwise feel like an arbitrary rule. Glad we could help!
Can 'worth' be used with percentages? Like, 'The stock is worth 10% more now.' Is that a common collocation?
I used 'definitely worth to see' last week and now I feel a bit embarrassed! This article arrived just in time. Thanks for the clear explanation!
Don't be embarrassed at all, Sofia! Making mistakes is a crucial part of the learning process. The important thing is that you've learned from it. Now you know to use the gerund: 'definitely worth seeing.' Keep practicing, and you'll master it!
What about 'worthwhile'? Is it always interchangeable with 'worth'? For example, 'It's a worthwhile project' versus 'It's a project worth doing.'
That's a very perceptive question, Omar! While related, 'worthwhile' and 'worth' aren't always interchangeable. 'Worthwhile' is an adjective that can directly precede a noun (a worthwhile effort) or stand alone (it was worthwhile), meaning 'worth the time or effort spent.' 'Worth,' as discussed, usually functions as a predicative adjective followed by a noun phrase or gerund. Your examples illustrate this perfectly; both are correct but structured differently.
This post clears up a lot of confusion. I always hesitated when using 'worth' because I wasn't sure if it was formal or informal. It seems quite versatile!
I'm from Sweden, and we have a similar construction to 'worth' but with different grammar. This helps me understand the English logic better. 'The concert was well worth the ticket price.' - Does this sound natural?
Your example is perfect, Lars! 'The concert was well worth the ticket price' sounds completely natural and idiomatic. You've successfully used 'well worth' followed by a noun phrase, demonstrating excellent understanding. Keep up the great work!