Mix it Up: Presenting Alternatives for "Sometimes"
It's common for us to use "sometimes" when discussing the frequency of activities — either because it's accurate or because it's a convenient word for being vague about how often something happens.
Students may not know, however, of the many other ways to express the same idea. So this article will cover some useful alternatives to help them expand their vocabulary and add a bit more variety to their conversations.
Adverbs of Frequency
Before we go further, hopefully your students are already familiar with the common adverbs of frequency. If not, they should definitely start here.
It can be helpful to present these adverbs like a scale, with "never" being 0%, and "always" at the top, representing 100%.
I never smoke cigarettes.
[I do not smoke cigarettes. / 0%]
She always calls me when she gets home from work.
[She calls every time. / 100%]
In between those two are "rarely" (~20-30%), "sometimes" (~50%) and "often" or "frequently" ~80%.
Because of its position in the middle of the frequency list, "sometimes" is used quite a lot. But students should know that it doesn't always equal exactly 50%; it could be a little more or a little less, depending on the situation.
With this out of the way, you can move on to presenting alternatives they can use instead.
Alternatives for “Sometimes”
From time to time
This expression is an informal way to say that something does happen but not very often.
We like to visit the beach from time to time.
I cook from time to time, but I'm not very good at it.
Once in a while
All of the expressions on this list roughly equal “sometimes,” but there are still slight differences in nuance for each.
For example, “once in a while” feels closer to "rarely" and expresses a lower frequency.
Once in a while, I’ll treat myself to a meal at an expensive restaurant.
That store has big sales once in a while.
Occasionally
This can also be expressed as “on occasion,” which sounds a bit more formal.
Occasionally, we’ll go on family vacations by car instead of flying.
I go to the movie theater on occasion, but I prefer to watch movies at home.
Every now and then
This alternative expresses a lower frequency than 50%.
Every now and then I’ll go to the sauna to relax.
They don’t live very close, so they only come to visit every now and then.
This is sometimes changed to “every now and again.”
It’s a good idea to back up your important files every now and again.
Every so often
"Every so often" is quite similar to "every now and then."
Every so often we like to go on a relaxing day trip outside the city.
When the mood strikes
Because this is an informal way of saying “whenever I get the feeling," it doesn't really have a place on our frequency scale. Instead, it describes times that cannot be planned or predicted.
I like to paint when the mood strikes, so I always keep some art supplies handy.
Sporadically
“Sporadic” is an adjective meaning “happening infrequently.” So “sporadically” is similar to “when the mood strikes” — something happens suddenly or unexpectedly.
It rains sporadically in this area.
As Responses
Be sure to mention that all of these expressions can also be used alone as responses to questions about frequency. However, this tends to sound quite informal unless it is followed up with additional information.
A
Do you listen to classical music?
B
Every now and then.
A
How often do you go jogging?
B
From time to time. It depends on the weather that day.
Follow-up and Discussion
Naturally, a lesson on this topic fits nicely with follow-up questions. Here are a few suggestions to start with:
How often do you:
- cook?
- play sports?
- go out to eat?
- travel overseas?
- meet with friends?
- go to live concerts?
- review your English notes?
- watch a movie in a theater?
- try something completely new?
You can take these questions in many different directions, but the main idea is to get students comfortable using each of the different ways of expressing frequency — no matter where on the scale it may rank.
Wrap-up
"Sometimes" is a quick, easy and effective word for talking about frequency. But that could be exactly why many English learners have not bothered to learn alternatives.
Introducing a wider range of expressions will allow them to articulate their thoughts with more variety and individual flair. In addition, it can motivate them to learn even more vocabulary beyond the basic terms they've already mastered long ago.
