要問如何能夠把握機會、取得成功，“努力”可能是老生常談的話題，尤其長輩們經常會以此來教導後輩，勉勵他們不能鬆懈下來。在這個競爭日益激烈的社會下，好的資質和資源成為了決定性的因素，但也不能否認努力仍舊佔據重要的部分，對於那些沒有好的社會資源、人脈關係的人來說這也是為數不多可以改變命運的機會。
學生時代，我們都會把努力放到學業上，用一張張的考卷來為自己日後的人生鋪路，這也是努力最早的體現。進入社會後，我們還要繼續在工作上努力上進，用出色的業績來換取加薪升職的寶貴機會，可以說努力在我們的生活中無處不在。在英文中“努力”也有自己相對應的定義，那麼今天我們就來學習下何為“努力”吧。
最常見的努力英文：effort
當我們在英文中想要表達努力的意思時，最常用到的便是名詞“effort”。 effort本身僅有名詞詞性，它通常情況下表示“努力”、“力氣”的意思，也可以指一些“費力的事”、“艱難的嘗試”等等，因為努力是一個抽象的概念，所以不具備複數形式。
effort的用法
一、effort最主要表達含義為“努力”、“力氣”，例如
這種裝置會使我們節省大量時間和力氣。
The device will save much time and effort for us.
他們決定要花更大力氣辦教育，為本村的經濟騰飛培養人才。
They decided that they should make greater efforts to develop education so as to train qualified personnel for economic take-off in our village.
地方俱樂部正在盡一切努力來吸引更多的年輕人。
The local clubs are making every effort to interest more young people.
儘管人們為營救這條船做了很大的努力，它還是沉了。
The ship went down although strenuous efforts were made to save it.
二、effort還可以表示“試圖”、“盡力”的意思，例如
尤妮斯寫了本書，最後一次試圖證明自己的清白。
In a final effort to clear her name, Eunice has written a book.
這已經是他們第二次試圖與這些被困人員進行聯繫了。
This is their second effort to make contact with the men.
教授們會盡力推動課堂討論和互動。
Every effort is made to facilitate class discussion and interaction.
她的思維依然明晰，但講述過程中若非她盡力吐出清晰的詞句，我還是沒法理解她的意思。
Her thoughts are intact, but I can’t understand her except when she puts a huge effort into producing a few clear words.
三、除過以上常見的含義以外，effort還可以表示“費力的事”、“有組織的活動”等意思
起床是件挺費力的事。
Getting up was an effort.
但是如果他們的客戶是謊言的攻擊目標，或者有組織的活動的聲譽受害者呢？
But what if clients are the target of lies or maybe an organized effort to harm their reputation?
相關短語搭配
一、in effort to，該短語意為“為了”、“努力”，例如
這家百貨店為努力招徠生意將許多商品減價出售。
The department store is offering reductions on many types of merchandise, in an effort to drum up business.
公司為節省資金遣散了150名工作人員。
The company has laid off 150 workers in an effort to save money.
為了看上去顯得成熟一些，她把金發別成了一個法式髮髻。
In an effort to look older she has pinned her fair hair into a French pleat.
為了把活兒乾完，彭妮常常午飯時間也要工作。
Penny tended to work through her lunch hour in an effort to keep up with her work.
二、effortless，該單詞為形容詞詞性，意為“不費力的”
谷歌讀者有幾個特點，使人感到快捷和毫不費勁。
Google Reader has several features that make it feel fast and effortless.
然而，學英語不是像我們想像的簡單。
However, learning English is not effortless like we imagined.
他的動作優美自如，看起來毫不費勁。
His movements were so graceful they seemed effortless.
他游刃有餘地演奏了這首樂曲。
He played the piece with effortless artistry.
近義詞之一：strive
Strive與effort的意思相近，但它卻是動詞詞性，主要表達的含義有“努力”“奮鬥”，或是“力爭”、“力求”。 Strive的第三人稱單數為strives，現在分詞為striving，過去式過去分詞分別為stove、striven。
Strive的用法和例句
一、strive作為動詞，其最主要的表達含義為“努力”、“奮鬥”
我們現在正努力建立明晰的議會民主制。
We are now striving hard to establish a transparent parliamentary democracy.
她努力做一個無可挑剔的賢妻。
She strove to perform all her wifely functions perfectly.
只要你努力奮鬥，夢想總有一天會實現的。
Your dream will come true one day as long as you strive for it.
他們正為一種新的詩歌形式和新的藝術標準而奮鬥。
They were striving toward a new verse form and new artistic standards.
二、strive還可以表示“力求”、“力爭”的意思
我很注重教學的個性化，力求滿足不同學生的不同需求。
I value individuality, and strive to meet the needs of each student.
每個IT部門都力求為系統維護一個健康的生產環境。
Every IT department strives for maintaining a healthy production environment for their systems.
科學家們力爭在癌症研究方面有所突破。
The scientists strive for a breakthrough in cancer research.
只要你努力奮鬥，夢想總有一天會實現的。
Your dream will come true one day as long as you strive for it.
近義詞之一：endeavor
作為近義詞，endeavor同時具備動詞、名詞，且都表達“努力”、“盡力”等含義，複數形式為endeavors，過去式過去分詞為endeavored，現在分詞形式為endeavoring。
一、endeavor最主要表達含義為“努力’，例如
努力改善城市內的生活品質。
Endeavored to improve the quality of life in the inner city.
我們合作需要依賴雙方的努力。
Our cooperation needs take advantage of our endeavors.
努力使我們的客人對產品滿意，對我們的服務滿意。
We endeavor to make our customers satisfied with good service and good quality products.
二、endeavor還可以表示“盡力”、“試圖”的意思
他保證他會盡力糾正自己的行為。
He promised that he would endeavor to correct his behavior.
我會盡力讓這門課比聽上去更有趣。
Which I will endeavor to make more interesting than that sounds.
在過去的四年裡，他試圖在國立台灣師範發展一個音樂數字檔案的環境。
During the past four years, he endeavored to develop a digital archives environment in music in NTNU.
在你試圖學習一般所謂商用英文之前，了解基本的英文是必要的。
Before endeavoring to learn what is commonly known as” business English”, it is necessary to understand basic English.
總結
或許有人會抱怨自己比別人享有的資源更少，再努力也都是白費力氣，但比起一直自欺欺人，努力不也是證明自己的最好方式嗎？在英文學習中也亦是如此，只有努力過才能取得紮實的基礎，才能將英文轉化成自己日後晉升的優勢。