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Question Usage of "sometimes"

hirashin

Sempai
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8 Apr 2004
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Dear native English speakers,
all the exams ended. Thank you all for your great help.
I'm afraid some students got very bad grades.

Incidentally, I'd like to ask about the usage of "sometimes".

Which sentences below can be used?
(1a) I sometimes slept for more than ten years at that time.
(1b) Sometimes I slept for more than ten years at that time.
(1c) I slept for more than ten years sometimes at that time.
(2a) I have sometimes seen your son in my neighborhood.
(2b) Sometimes I have seen your son in my neighborhood.
(2c) I have seen your son sometimes in my neighborhood.
(2d) I have seen your son in my neighborhood, sometimes.
(3a) I will sometimes visit temples when I am in Kyoto .
(3b) Sometimes I will visit temples when I am in Kyoto.
(3c) I will visit temples sometimes when I am in Kyoto.
(3d) I sometimes will visit temples when I am in Kyoto.

Hirashin
 
(1a) I sometimes slept for more than ten years at that time.
(1b) Sometimes, I slept for more than ten years at that time.
(1c) I slept for more than ten years sometimes at that time.
These all suggest that you're taking ten year naps, which is obviously not what you mean.

If it weren't for that problem, 1a would be the typical form, 1b (comma is necessary) would be a form emphasizing the "sometimes" portion, and 1c would be an unusual form which would emphasize the "ten years" portion.

What I think you mean to say is that you didn't get much sleep (on average) for more than 10 years, which does make sense. In that case, you have to use a word like "rarely", "barely", or "hardly".

(2a) I have sometimes seen your son in my neighborhood.
(2b) Sometimes, I have seen your son in my neighborhood.
(2c) I have seen your son sometimes in my neighborhood.
(2d) I have seen your son in my neighborhood, sometimes.
I think these are fine, though I don't really like the usage that much. The usage "I have seen" is the same as 見たことかあります and "sometimes" is mostly redundant.

2b emphasizes "sometimes", 2c emphasizes "son", and 2d could be emphasizing "sometimes" or "neighborhood" (depending on tone).

(3a) I will sometimes visit temples when I am in Kyoto.
(3b) Sometimes, I will visit temples when I am in Kyoto.
(3c) I will visit temples sometimes when I am in Kyoto.
(3d) I sometimes will visit temples when I am in Kyoto.
All valid (comma necessary in 3b). 3a and 3d are both neutral forms, 3b emphasizes "sometimes", 3c emphasizes "temples".

Note that this refers to your ongoing habit; it's not future tense. "Sometimes" cannot be used in the future tense.
 
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(1a) I sometimes slept for more than ten years at that time. X
(1b) Sometimes I slept for more than ten years at that time. X
(1c) I slept for more than ten years sometimes at that time. X

(2a) I have sometimes seen your son in my neighborhood. X
(2b) Sometimes I have seen your son in my neighborhood. X
(2c) I have seen your son sometimes in my neighborhood. X
(2d) I have seen your son in my neighborhood, sometimes. X

(3a) I will sometimes visit temples when I am in Kyoto. X
(3b) Sometimes I will visit temples when I am in Kyoto. X
(3c) I will visit temples sometimes when I am in Kyoto. X
(3d) I sometimes will visit temples when I am in Kyoto. X
 
Oops. I mean
(1a) I sometimes slept for more than ten hours at that time.
(1b) Sometimes I slept for more than ten hours at that time.
(1c) I slept for more than ten hours sometimes at that time.

It seems I was sleepy last night. Sorry.

Buntaro, you think all my sentences sound off, don't you?
 
In that case, the only problem with 1a-1c is that 1b needs a comma (which, if I'm honest, is mostly a petty linguistic concern; native speakers omit those commas all the time, it's just frowned upon in formal writing).
 
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