sometimes I would forget

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sometimes I would forget" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where forgetting occurs occasionally or intermittently. Example: "Sometimes I would forget to bring my lunch to work, which made me rely on takeout more often."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

—a 19-year-old single woman from Pretoria who had 11 years of education and was in the HIV-negative SSI group Sometimes I would forget [to take the study pill] as I left home thinking I would come back, [but] I didn't.

AIDS and Behavior

Regardless of the type of group, descriptions of non-adherence suggested that participants missed pills only occasionally, primarily because of short-term travel or forgetfulness, and that this non-adherence was not likely reflective of their overall adherence: Sometimes I would forget [to take the study pill] as I left home thinking I would come back, [but] I didn't.

AIDS and Behavior

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I could not walk most days, sometimes I'd forget my name, I couldn't use my hands or legs.

The Guardian

"At times I was incapable of getting enough oxygen to get my lines out on stage, and sometimes I'd forget where I was in the play," Mr. Piven said.

The New York Times

However, sometimes I'd forget my family.

Huffington Post

I would forget about it sometimes, to be honest, but when a female friend came round to watch TV one night I ended up telling her, setting it up with the, "I don't know if I'm overreacting, but... .. line.

Vice

I would forget about it sometimes, to be honest, but when a female friend came round to watch telly one night I ended up telling her, setting it up with the, "I don't know if I'm overreacting, but... .. line.

Vice

I would forget to breathe".

The New Yorker

Otherwise I would forget.

Unicef

I remember exactly what I was wearing, the weather, temperature, every exact thing that I sometimes wish I'd forget, and my heart starts to race, and I go completely silent.

HuffPost

Sometimes I would sort of forget who it was I was with until, as in this case, a couple going for their car saw him standing by mine and lost the power of speech.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sometimes I would forget" to convey occasional lapses in memory or attention, particularly when narrating past events or habits. It effectively communicates that forgetting wasn't constant, but happened intermittently.

Common error

Avoid using "sometimes I would forget" when describing a single, isolated instance of forgetting. Instead, use the simple past tense: "Sometimes I forgot". The 'would' construction implies a repeated action or tendency in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sometimes I would forget" functions as an adverbial modifier indicating the frequency of an action (forgetting). It specifies that the action occurred intermittently, not consistently. As Ludwig's AI shows, the 'would' construction indicates a past habit or tendency.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sometimes I would forget" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to describe intermittent forgetfulness in the past. As per Ludwig, it is most commonly found in news, science, and formal business contexts. When writing, it's important to distinguish this construction from "sometimes I forget", which describes a present or general condition. Related phrases include "occasionally I forgot" and "from time to time I would forget", offering alternative ways to express similar ideas. Avoid overusing "would" for single past instances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I occasionally forgot

Changes the structure to use "occasionally" as an adverb modifying "forgot".

I would forget from time to time

Replaces "sometimes" with "from time to time" to indicate the intermittent nature of forgetting.

there were times I'd forget

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize specific instances of forgetting.

I'd forget every so often

Uses the idiomatic expression "every so often" to replace "sometimes".

now and then I'd forget

Replaces "sometimes" with "now and then", indicating infrequent occurrence.

I'd frequently forget

Emphasizes a higher frequency of forgetting compared to "sometimes".

I was prone to forgetting

Indicates a tendency or inclination to forget.

I'd be apt to forget

Expresses a likelihood of forgetting in certain situations.

on occasion I would forget

Replaces "sometimes" with "on occasion", formalizing the tone.

certain times I would forget

Highlights that forgetting occurred during specific, unspecified moments.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "sometimes I would forget" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "on occasion I forgot" or "occasionally I would forget". These alternatives maintain the meaning but elevate the style.

Is it correct to say "sometimes I would forgot"?

No, the correct form is "sometimes I would forget". The modal verb "would" is always followed by the base form of the verb.

What is the difference between "sometimes I forget" and "sometimes I would forget"?

"Sometimes I forget" refers to occasional forgetfulness in the present or as a general truth. "Sometimes I would forget" typically refers to a past habit or recurring action in the past. For example: "When I was a child, sometimes I would forget to do my homework".

Are there synonyms for "sometimes" that I can use with "I would forget"?

Yes, you can use synonyms like "occasionally", "at times", or "from time to time" to vary your language. For example, "Occasionally I would forget".