he sometimes has

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he sometimes has" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it in a sentence like this: "When he's feeling down, he sometimes has trouble concentrating."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He sometimes has a wispy mustache and goatee.

The New Yorker

He knows he sometimes has a short fuse when the golfing demons tweak him.

Independent

At the Pentagon, he sometimes has "out-of-body" experiences, he said in September.

The Washington Post

Philip's young body has been weakened to the point where he sometimes has trouble standing, but his tumor has stabilized.

The New York Times

PAUL KRUGMAN has linked to Free Exchange before, so I assume that he sometimes has occasion to read it.

The Economist

His manner is watchful and slightly formal; he sometimes has the blandly skeptical look of a prison guard.

The New Yorker

He said that he sometimes has difficulty sustaining his passion over the hard slog of a film shoot.

The New Yorker

During breaks in trials, he sometimes has prosecutors or his aides laughing in the halls outside of the courtroom.

The New York Times

Drained and bloated by cancer treatment, he sometimes has trouble walking.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

He sometimes has to get the Hollywood actors to flatten out their performances a little, so that there's not too much discrepancy among the cast.

The New Yorker

The other is ready with a joke about a profession he sometimes has trouble taking seriously.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he sometimes has" to indicate actions, feelings, or possessions that occur intermittently but are not habitual. This conveys a sense of irregularity without implying complete absence.

Common error

Avoid using "he sometimes has" when you mean "he always has" or "he never has". "Sometimes" implies an intermittent occurrence, not a constant state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he sometimes has" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating that a male subject experiences or possesses something intermittently. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts, from describing physical ailments to emotional states.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science & Research

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he sometimes has" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate intermittent actions, feelings, or possessions. According to Ludwig, its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, particularly news and media. While alternatives exist, "he sometimes has" offers a clear and concise way to express occasional occurrences without implying consistency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he occasionally possesses

Emphasizes the possession aspect with a slightly more formal tone and interchangeable adverb.

he might occasionally have

Expresses possibility with "might" and replaces "sometimes" with "occasionally".

he now and then experiences

Focuses on experiences rather than possessions, using a common idiom.

he from time to time owns

Highlights ownership and uses a slightly more formal and less frequent adverbial phrase.

he will sometimes hold

Uses "will" to indicate a future possibility, differing in tense and nuance.

he may at times include

Suggests occasional inclusion rather than possession, altering the core meaning slightly.

he does occasionally feature

Implies sporadic appearance or showcasing, shifting the focus from possession to presentation.

he is known to periodically show

Introduces the idea of a known pattern of behavior or characteristic.

he can intermittently display

Emphasizes ability to display something with a more technical or clinical tone.

he is apt to sporadically present

Suggests a natural tendency to present something in a scattered manner.

FAQs

How can I use "he sometimes has" in a sentence?

Use "he sometimes has" to indicate that an action, feeling, or possession occurs intermittently. For example, "He sometimes has trouble sleeping" indicates that he doesn't always have difficulty, but it happens occasionally.

What are some alternatives to "he sometimes has"?

You can use alternatives like "he occasionally possesses", "he now and then experiences", or "he might occasionally have" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "he has sometimes" instead of "he sometimes has"?

While "he has sometimes" isn't strictly incorrect, it's less common and can sound awkward. "He sometimes has" is the more natural and widely accepted phrasing.

What's the difference between "he sometimes has" and "he often has"?

"He sometimes has" indicates that something occurs occasionally, while "he often has" suggests a greater frequency. "Sometimes" implies less regularity than "often".