What are Time Expressions in English?
Time expressions are words or phrases that tell us about time. They answer questions like When? ou 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
We also use 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 | Signification |
|---|---|
| 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. |
Exemples
- 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.
Entraînement
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Erreurs courantes chez les hispanophones
Les hispanophones commettent parfois les erreurs suivantes :
- Using ‘one time’ instead of ‘once’: In English, we usually say once, et non one time. For example, I go once a week. (Correct) vs. 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, et non once in a week. For example, I study English twice a week. (Correct) vs. I study English twice in a week. (Incorrect).
- Incorrect position: Remember to put time expressions at the end of the sentence. For example, I visit my family every month. (Correct) vs. I every month visit my family. (Incorrect).
Questions fréquemment posées
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 ou 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…? Par exemple, How often do you study English?
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