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Time Expressions with "Every"

The word "every" is commonly used with time-related phrases to indicate regular intervals or repeated actions. In these constructions, "every" helps to establish a schedule or frequency, making it clear how often something happens within a given time frame.

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First of all, "every" can be used with any unit of time, from a second to a century, to indicate that something happens once during that time period. "Every day" means that something happens once in 24 hours, whereas something that happens "every year" happens at least one time during a 365-day period.

 

Otters have a high metabolism, so they have to eat almost a fifth of their weight every day.

Captions 36-37, America's National Parks: Olympic

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In February, every year, we host a large pond hockey tournament.

Caption 10, Adventures with Kate: Pond Hockey

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We also use "every other" to talk about a predictable frequency that skips time. For example, "every other day" means the event happens one day, then skips the next day, and happens again the day after that. 

 

I have to go shopping almost every other day.

Caption 36, An Apartment: In Japan

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Always living out of a bag... being in a different location every other week.

Captions 33-34, Kiteboarding Rider Profile: Tom Court

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Sometimes, we also use "every" with "few" or "a couple" and a plural noun. Have a look: 

 

I just get touched-up every... every few seconds.

Caption 74, Food Diaries: Everything Kylie Jenner Eats in a Day

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It could be every couple hours or every half hour.

Caption 10, Brooklyn Butcher: A & S Italian

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And sometimes, the interval has a number that really needs to be specified. These sentences state that something happens once in a four-day period and once in a six-week period. 

 

The eaglet can gain more than a pound every four days.

Caption 33, America's National Parks: Olympic

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The windows have to be cleaned once every six weeks.

Caption 14, In London: with Lauren Buckingham Palace

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Further Learning
You will find many examples likes these on Yabla English. For an overview of the difference between "each" and "every," see our related lesson.

 

Fall, Autumn, and Indian Summer

The weather where you live may be different, but with cooler temperatures and rains, summer is already showing signs of being over. Summer officially ends on August 31st, so let's talk today about the season that comes after summer. 

 

The most common American English name for the season after summer is fall. The word possibly came from Old English or Old Norse into British English. By the 20th century, it had fallen into disuse in Britain. 

 

The fall is my favorite season in New York.

Caption 10, Caralie and Annie: Get to Know Each Other

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Spring is long gone, and summer's over, and we're ready for fall.

Captions 36-37, Food Talk with Sigrid: Simple Summer Vegetables

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Third, we have fall, or you could say autumn, when the leaves turn golden.

Captions 21-22, Lydia Explains: Weekdays, Seasons and Months

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The other English word for this season, as you can see in the last caption above, is autumn. This is the standard British English word for the season. It's also common in American English, though a bit more formal than "fall."

 

The Changing of the Guard happens throughout autumn and winter,

Caption 27, In London with Lauren: Buckingham Palace

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It's the end of October, so we are in the middle of autumn.

Captions 4-5, Sigrid: Pumpkin Season

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Meanwhile, autumn has painted its colors on the Alps.

Caption 21, The Last Paradises: Realm of the Golden Eagle

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The last caption does not mean that the season is literally taking up a brush to paint. It's metaphorically describing how in autumn, the green leaves of the trees change color to orange and gold!

 

Some years we get lucky and have a few weeks in fall (or autumn) when it's warm and sunny. This is commonly called Indian summer in English. Nobody knows where this phrase really came from, but other languages also have a name for this phenomenon. In many European languages, it is called "old woman's summer," and in some South American countries, it is called "little summer."

 

You're like an Indian summer in the middle of winter

Caption 27, Katy Perry - Thinking Of You: Behind The Scenes

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Further Learning
Go to Yabla English and watch the Lydia Explains video to learn more about seasons. You can also find more videos by searching for "autumn" and "fall."

Where It's At!

A preposition is a type of word that express spatial or temporal relations. Here is a list of known English prepositions. There is no set of rules for learning prepositions, and the prepositions from one language often do not translate directly into another. It's best to learn English prepositions by getting used to using them in context. Today, let's take a look at the preposition "at."

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The preposition "at" can be used to express the time of day: 

 

And at three o'clock the Queen comes on and she gives her speech.

And at three o'clock the Queen comes on and she gives her speech.

Caption 24, Christmas Traditions - In the UK

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Or to indicate a place: 

 

As you can see behind me, we are at Buckingham Palace.

As you can see behind me, we are at Buckingham Palace.

Caption 1, In London with Lauren - Buckingham Palace

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Or to indicate an activity or proficiency with something:

 

So I'm very good at working as part of a team.

So I'm very good at working as part of a team.

Caption 34, Business English - The Job Interview

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Or very commonly when mentioning an email address. The "at symbol" (@) in an email address is also called... at!

 

You can email us at...

You can email us at...

Caption 50, The Egoscue Clinic of Austin - Exercises for Lower Back Pain

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Further Learning
Search for examples of the preposition "at" on Yabla English to see them used in a real-world context.