how to express 'every year, at this time'?

[Heidi]

Dear teachers,
If I want to express the idea 'every year, at this time', how should I say? "at this time of year"? "at this time of the year"? or "at this time of the years"?
For example, 'at this time of year(?), we'd like to make New Year's resolutions'.

Thank you!

[sarat_106]

Dear teachers,
If I want to express the idea 'every year, at this time', how should I say? "at this time of year"? "at this time of the year"? or "at this time of the years"?
For example, 'at this time of year(?), we'd like to make New Year's resolutions'.

Thank you!

Use ‘the’ before year. You say: the best film of the year, the man of the year. this time of the year. the resolition at this time of the year.

[Heidi]

Use ‘the’ before year. You say: the best film of the year, the man of the year. this time of the year. the resolition at this time of the year.

Dear sarat,
Is it possible that 'this time of the year' means 'this time of this year', not every year?

[Raymott]

Dear sarat,
Is it possible that 'this time of the year' means 'this time of this year', not every year?

Generally not.
Your sentence: 'At this time of year, we'd like to make New Year's resolutions' is not really a good sentence because "we'd like to" obviously refers only to this (or next) year, while the expression "at this time of [the] year" generally means every year.

I'm always excited at this time of year.
We generally make resolutions at this time of year.

[Heidi]

Generally not.
Your sentence: 'At this time of year, we'd like to make New Year's resolutions' is not really a good sentence because "we'd like to" obviously refers only to this (or next) year, while the expression "at this time of [the] year" generally means every year.

I'm always excited at this time of year.
We generally make resolutions at this time of year.

Dear Raymott,
Thanks for your reply.
1. Does 'we'd like to' mean 'we want to'?
2. Would you please explain why "because "we'd like to" obviously refers only to this (or next) year", and give me some more examples? Thanks!
3. Similarly, 'the best film of the year' means 'the best film for many years'?

[Raymott]

Dear Raymott,
Thanks for your reply.
1. Does 'we'd like to' mean 'we want to'?
It means "We would like to ..." Yes, it means something similar to "We want to ..."

2. Would you please explain why "because "we'd like to" obviously refers only to this (or next) year", and give me some more examples? Thanks!
"We'd like to ..." can't refer to the past, so it must refer to this year, or some year in the future. You can't say "We'd like to make resolutions last year" or "We want to make resolutions last year".

3. Similarly, 'the best film of the year' means 'the best film for many years'?
No, that expression means this year.
You were asking about "this time of [the] year", which is different.

R.

[Heidi]

the expression "at this time of [the] year" generally means every year

Dear Raymott,
So,'this time of [the] year' means 'this time of this year and years in the future'? But not 'this time of years in the past'?

Hope I didn't bother you too much!

[Heidi]

Dear Raymott,
So,'this time of [the] year' means 'this time of this year and years in the future'? But not 'this time of years in the past'?

Hope I didn't bother you too much!

Dear raymott,
I think my question wasn't very good. Lst me try in another way, does 'We would make New Year's resolutions at this time of year' mean ' it's our habit in the past that we generally made New Year's resolutions at this of year'?

[Raymott]

Dear Raymott,
So,'this time of [the] year' means 'this time of this year and years in the future'?
No.
But not 'this time of years in the past'?
No, "this time of the year" refers to all years.
That is the phrase you were asking about.

I said you can't use the term "We would like to ..." to refer to the past. This has nothing to do with the phrase "this time of year".

R.

[Raymott]

Dear raymott,
I think my question wasn't very good. Lst me try in another way, does 'We would make New Year's resolutions at this time of year' mean ' it's our habit in the past that we generally made New Year's resolutions at this of year'?

Yes, but bear in mind that you have now asked three different questions, and the answers are all different.
Your original example was:
1. "We'd like to make resolutions ..." This one reads:
2. "We would make resolutions ..."

1. refers to the present and future.
2. refers to the past.

Neither of these terms has any bearing on the use of "this time of [the] year".