relative synonyms

Hi

Are the following expressions relative synonyms for sometimes?

off and on, now and then, at times, from time to time.

If you know any other synonym or synonyms for the word written in bold letters above, please tell me.

Are there any important differences between these expressions?

Thank you very much in advance.

Teia said:

Hi

Are the following expressions relative synonyms for sometimes?

off and on, now and then, at times, from time to time.

If you know any other synonym or synonyms for the word written in bold letters above, please tell me.

Are there any important differences between these expressions?

Thank you very much in advance.

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'every so often'?

I'd say 'at times' is used more for states than intermittent activities:

'At times he seems happy, but at other times he sinks into a deep depression.'

To me, the other 3 expressions are closer in meaning to 'occasionally' but then there's such a lot of overlap between the two - one man's 'occasionally' might be another man's 'sometimes'. Which reminds me of a split-screen scene from Woody Allen's Annie Hall. A couple are seeing the same psychotherapist ( or 'shrink' as Woody prefers).

"How often do you have sex?"

He: "Hardly ever - maybe three times a week."

She: "Constantly! I'd say three times a week!"

bertietheblue said:

'every so often'?

I'd say 'at times' is used more for states than intermittent activities:

'At times he seems happy, but at other times he sinks into a deep depression.'

To me, the other 3 expressions are closer in meaning to 'occasionally' but then there's such a lot of overlap between the two - one man's 'occasionally' might be another man's 'sometimes'. Which reminds me of a split-screen scene from Woody Allen's Annie Hall. A couple are seeing the same psychotherapist ( or 'shrink' as Woody prefers).

"How often do you have sex?"

He: "Hardly ever - maybe three times a week."

She: "Constantly! I'd say three times a week!"

Click to expand...

:lol: Thank you so much! Good to remember! [ is this sentence correct? How shall I say it better?]

Teia said:

:lol: Thank you so much! Good to remember! [ is this sentence correct? How could [STRIKE]shall [/STRIKE]I say it better?]

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eg

'Well worth remembering!'

bertietheblue said:

eg

'Well worth remembering!'

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Why did you cross the word shall out? Is could more polite? I think so. [ I have the bad habit to answer my own questions]

Thank you for your advice and answers.

Teia said:

Why did you cross the word shall out? Because it's wrong. Is could more polite? I think so. [ I have the bad habit to answer my own questions]

Thank you for your advice and answers.

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Bertie

You are talking about the ability to say something better - 'could'.

bertietheblue said:

You are talking about the ability to say something better - 'could'.

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Thank you very much again!

'can' is less formal here.

(Sorry, for the succession of afterthoughts.)

bertietheblue said:

'can' is less formal here.

(Sorry, for the succession of afterthoughts.)

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No problem! Any advice is welcome. I have been studying modal verbs for long and I`m not accustomed to using them properly yet.

Where should I put the adverb properly?

I have been studying modal verbs for long and I`m not accustomed to properly using them yet. - Is this correct?

bertietheblue said:

'can' is less formal here.

(Sorry, for the succession of afterthoughts.)

Click to expand...

Sorry, I take that back. I don't think the distinction is between formality and inforrmality but between the level of uncertainty/confidence on the part of the speaker but I'd have to do some more thinking to say more about the can I .../could I ... differences (in case you ask).

Teia said:

No problem! Any advice is welcome. I have been studying modal verbs for long and I`m not accustomed to using them properly yet.

Where should I put the adverb properly?

I have been studying modal verbs for long and I`m not accustomed to properly using them yet. - Is this correct?

Click to expand...

We're drifting off the subject of the original thread here. Why don't you ask that question as a new thread. I can't answer right now as there's something I want to watch on the BBC website. Bye for now!

bertietheblue said:

We're drifting off the subject of the original thread here. Why don't you ask that question as a new thread. I can't answer right now as there's something I want to watch on the BBC website. Bye for now!

Click to expand...

Thank you very much for everything.

Good night!