How to use “sometimes,” “sometime,” and “some time” correctly

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

As an English learner, you might find the words “sometimes,” “sometime,” and “some time” confusing because they look similar. However, they each have different meanings and uses.

In today’s NRTC English, I have explained the differences between these words with simple examples to help you understand how to use them correctly.

What does “sometimes” mean?

“Sometimes” is an adverb. We use it to talk about things that happen occasionally or not all the time. Think of it as meaning “on some occasions but not always.”

For example:

• I sometimes go for a walk in the evening.
  (This means that I don’t go for a walk every evening, but I do it occasionally.)
• She sometimes reads before bed.
  (She doesn’t read every night, but she does it now and then.)

You can use “sometimes” when something happens from time to time, but not regularly.

What does “sometime” mean?

“Sometime” (without the “s”) is also an adverb, but it is used to talk about a point in time in the future or past when something happens, but you don’t know exactly when. It refers to an unspecified time.

For example:

• Let’s meet sometime next week.
  (We will meet next week, but we haven’t decided on the exact day or time.)
• He visited me sometime last year.
  (He visited me last year, but I don’t remember exactly when.)

You can think of “sometime” as meaning “at an unknown or unspecified time”.

ALSO READ

• “Severally” does not mean “several times”
• The Shawarma Rule in English and its exceptions
• A problem shared is a problem ‘halved’, not ‘half-solved’
• The proof (not taste) of the pudding is in the eating
• An effective guide to the mastery of English stress

The meaning of “some time”

“Some time” is a phrase made up of the word “some” and the noun “time.” It means a period of time or a while. You use it to talk about a length of time, usually when you want to emphasize that something took a long time or will take a while.

Examples:

• It took me some time to finish the project. (It took a long time for me to complete the project.)
• We’ll need some time to decide. (We need a period of time to make a decision.)

Key Differences

1. “Sometimes” talks about how often something happens (occasionally).
2. “Sometime” talks about a time when something will or has happened, but the time is not specific.
3. Use “some time” when talking about a period of time or when something takes a while.

Even though “sometimes,” “sometime,” and “some time” look similar, they have different meanings. “Sometimes” means “occasionally,” “sometime” refers to an unspecified time, and “some time” talks about a period of time. With practice and these examples, you’ll be able to use them correctly.