What are Time Expressions in English?
Time expressions are words or phrases that tell us about time. They answer questions like When? o How often?.
At A1 level, we learn basic time expressions to talk about our routines and habits.
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How Do We Talk About Frequency (How Often)?
To say how many times something happens, we use specific words:
- For one time: once
- For two times: twice
- For three or more times: three times, four times, etc.
We combine these with a period of time:
- once a day
- twice a week
- three times a month
- four times a year
También utilizamos every to talk about regular occurrences:
- every day
- every week
- every month
- every year
- every Tuesday (for a specific day)
Where Do Time Expressions Go in a Sentence?
Most of the time, time expressions go at the end of a sentence.
- I play football once a week.
- She goes to the gym every day.
- They visit their grandparents twice a month.
Sometimes, for emphasis, you can put them at the beginning of the sentence. But for A1, it’s simpler to put them at the end.
- Every morning, I drink coffee. (Less common for A1, but possible)
| Expression | Significado |
|---|---|
| once a day/week/month/year | One time in that period. |
| twice a day/week/month/year | Two times in that period. |
| three times a day/week/month/year | Three times in that period. |
| every day | All days. |
| every week | All weeks. |
| every month | All months. |
| every year | All years. |
Ejemplos
- I eat breakfast every morning.
- She calls her mother once a week.
- He goes to the library twice a month.
- We have English class three times a week.
- They travel to Spain every year.
- My brother plays video games every day.
Práctica
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Errores habituales de los hispanohablantes
Los hispanohablantes a veces cometen estos errores:
- Using ‘one time’ instead of ‘once’: In English, we usually say once, no one time. Por ejemplo, I go once a week. (Correcto) frente a. I go one time a week. (Less natural, but understandable).
- Using ‘in a week’ instead of ‘a week’: In Spanish, you might say ‘una vez *a* la semana’. In English, we say once a week, no once in a week. Por ejemplo, I study English twice a week. (Correcto) frente a. I study English twice in a week. (Incorrecto).
- Incorrect position: Remember to put time expressions at the end of the sentence. For example, I visit my family every month. (Correcto) frente a. I every month visit my family. (Incorrecto).
Preguntas más frecuentes
What is a time expression?
A time expression is a word or phrase that tells us when or how often something happens. For example, every day o once a week.
Where do I put time expressions in a sentence?
Usually, time expressions go at the end of the sentence. For example, I watch TV every evening.
Can I say ‘one time a week’?
It’s better and more natural to say once a week. One time a week is understandable but not typical.
How do I ask about frequency?
To ask how often something happens, you use the question How often…? Por ejemplo, How often do you study English?
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