[Grammar] A Question about the "Day"

[harllim]

Hi, everybody

I was wondering which one is more commonly used in your daily lifes, I go to church every Sunday or I go to church on Sundays. I can not tell the difference. I will appreciate if you can tell me their difference.

 

[5jj]

1. I go to church every Sunday
2. I go to church on Sundays.

The first one says that you go to church 52 times a year; the second doesn't.

 

[harllim]

1. I go to church every Sunday
2. I go to church on Sundays.

The first one says that you go to church 52 times a year; the second doesn't.

Can I know which one you prefer to say?

 

[SoothingDave]

1. I go to church every Sunday
2. I go to church on Sundays.

The first one says that you go to church 52 times a year; the second doesn't.

I don't agree. I think they have the same meaning.

 

[harllim]

Which one do you prefer to use?
For me, I prefer to use the first.

 

[5jj]

I don't agree. I think they have the same meaning.

'Every' does suggest to me 'all possible'.

 

[SoothingDave]

So does "on Sundays." If I said "On Saturdays I go shopping for groceries," wouldn't you think I meant every Saturday?

 

[5jj]

No. If I meant 'every', I'd say 'every'.
It seems we'll have to agree to differ.

 

[Rover_KE]

To me, 'I go to church on Sundays' means that I don't go to any of the weekday services.

Rover

 

[SoothingDave]

Monty Python - Im A Lumberjack Lyrics

What does:

On Wednesdays I go shopping
And have buttered scones for tea

mean?

I always thought it meant he had a regular habit of going shopping on Wednesday.

 

[5jj]

What does: On Wednesdays I go shopping / And have buttered scones for tea mean?

I always thought it meant he had a regular habit of going shopping on Wednesday.

I agree.

I also agree that 'on' does not necessarily suggest that he does not do it 52 times a year, and that 'every' does not necessarily mean that he does do it 52 times a year (unless it is heavily stressed).

However, in the original example, I feel that a person who goes to church three times a month would not use 'every', so, for me, there can be a difference - sometimes.