I would sometimes

USAGE SUMMARY

'I would sometimes' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express past habits, e.g. "I would sometimes skip breakfast on the weekends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Bob and I would sometimes smoke together.

The New York Times

I would sometimes listen in.

The Guardian

She and I would sometimes go to the movies together.

The New York Times - Arts

I would sometimes even refer to him in the shows.

The Guardian

I would sometimes give our children a choice.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I would sometimes double-up the dates and have dinner at the same restaurant.

The New York Times

For several days afterwards, I would sometimes see myself from above.

The New Yorker

"I would sometimes take days off from training to go play," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

My father collected them and kept them in thick black binders that I would sometimes pore over with curiosity.

The New York Times - Food

I would sometimes beg my mother to bring out her engagement ring and show me the diamond in it.

The New Yorker

Yes, it's possible that I would sometimes use wife or kids as guinea pigs for my cameras and lenses.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past habits or actions that occurred with some frequency but not consistently, use "I would sometimes" to provide a nuanced understanding of the behavior. This clarifies that the action was neither a constant routine nor a one-time event.

Common error

Avoid shifting from the past conditional ("I would sometimes") to the present tense without a clear reason. Maintain consistency to avoid confusing the reader about the timeframe of the actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I would sometimes" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating frequency. It modifies a verb to specify that an action occurred intermittently in the past. Ludwig shows many examples where it is used to describe habits or experiences that were not constant but occurred on occasion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I would sometimes" is a commonly used phrase that serves to indicate that an action or state occurred intermittently in the past. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media. Its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication, and its purpose is to add nuance by specifying that something was not always the case, but happened with some regularity. When writing, be mindful of maintaining consistent tense and choosing appropriate alternatives to enhance clarity and style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Now and then I would

Uses a common idiom to convey the idea of occasional actions in a conversational style.

I'd occasionally do

Uses contraction for a more informal tone, emphasizing the sporadic nature of the action.

From time to time, I would

Emphasizes the periodic and irregular nature of the actions.

I occasionally did

Focuses on occasional actions using the verb "did" for emphasis or past reference.

Once in a while, I did

Uses an idiomatic expression to denote infrequent occurrences, adding a touch of casualness.

I used to occasionally

Combines past habit with occasional occurrence, adding a layer of past routine.

I did on occasion

Highlights specific instances rather than habitual actions, making it more event-focused.

There were times I would

Emphasizes the timing and circumstances under which the actions occurred.

I, at times, would

Inverts the phrase for emphasis, drawing attention to the intermittent nature of the behavior.

I have been known to

Indicates a known tendency or reputation for doing something occasionally.

FAQs

How can I use "I would sometimes" in a sentence?

Use "I would sometimes" to describe a past action that occurred occasionally. For example, "I would sometimes skip breakfast when I was running late for work."

What are some alternatives to "I would sometimes"?

Alternatives include phrases like "occasionally", "now and then", or "from time to time" to convey a similar meaning of something happening intermittently.

Is it correct to say "I would sometimes"?

Yes, "I would sometimes" is grammatically correct. It's used to describe actions or habits that happened periodically in the past. The Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and common usability of the sentence structure.

What's the difference between "I would sometimes" and "I sometimes"?

"I would sometimes" typically refers to past actions or habits that occurred irregularly. "I sometimes" generally refers to present or general habits. For instance, "I would sometimes visit my grandmother" implies a past, intermittent action, while "I sometimes visit my grandmother" suggests a present, occasional action.