Understanding the nuances of English grammar can significantly enhance your writing and speaking skills. One common point of confusion is the distinction between “every time” and “everytime.” While they might seem interchangeable, only one is grammatically correct.
Mastering this difference is crucial for clear and effective communication. This article will delve into the correct usage of “every time,” providing comprehensive examples, rules, and practice exercises to help you confidently use it in your everyday language.
Whether you’re a student, a professional, or simply an English enthusiast, this guide will clarify this common grammatical point and improve your overall language proficiency.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of “Every Time”
- Structural Breakdown
- Types of “Every Time” Usage
- Examples of “Every Time” in Sentences
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Introduction
The English language is full of subtle nuances that can trip up even native speakers. One such subtlety lies in the difference between “every time” and “everytime.” While “every time” is a common and grammatically correct phrase, “everytime” is generally considered incorrect.
This article aims to provide a clear and comprehensive guide to understanding and correctly using “every time.” By exploring its definition, structure, usage rules, and common mistakes, we will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to use this phrase accurately in your writing and speech. This article is designed for learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced speakers, who wish to refine their understanding of English grammar.
Definition of “Every Time”
“Every time” is an adverbial phrase that functions as an adverb of time. It indicates that something happens repeatedly or on each occasion that a specific condition is met.
It essentially means “each instance” or “whenever.” The phrase consists of the adjective “every” and the noun “time,” used together to express frequency or recurrence. Understanding its definition is the first step to mastering its usage.
Definition: “Every time” means on each occasion; whenever.
Classification: Adverbial phrase (functions as an adverb of time)
Function: To indicate frequency, repetition, or recurrence of an action or event.
Contexts: Used in various contexts, including:
- Describing habitual actions
- Expressing cause and effect
- Indicating conditions
- Narrating events that occur repeatedly
Structural Breakdown
The structure of “every time” is straightforward. It comprises two separate words: “every” and “time.” “Every” is a determiner that specifies that something applies to all members of a group or all instances of something.
“Time” is a noun that refers to a specific point or period when something occurs. When used together, they form a phrase that indicates each instance or occasion.
“Every”: This word functions as a determiner, modifying the noun “time.” It indicates that the following noun applies to each and every member of a group, leaving no exceptions. In this context, “every” signifies “each” or “all.”
“Time”: This is a noun that refers to a point or period when something happens. It can refer to a specific moment, a duration, or an occasion. In the phrase “every time,” “time” refers to each instance or occasion that something occurs.
Phrase Structure: The phrase “every time” typically introduces a clause that describes the action or event that occurs repeatedly. The basic structure is: “Every time + Subject + Verb + (Object/Complement).”
For example: “Every time I go to the store, I buy chocolate.” Here, “every time” introduces the clause “I go to the store,” which is followed by the main clause “I buy chocolate.” This indicates that buying chocolate is a recurring event whenever the speaker goes to the store.
Types of “Every Time” Usage
“Every time” can be used in various ways to add detail and clarity to your sentences. Here are a few common categories:
1. Expressing Habitual Actions
This is used to describe actions that occur regularly or habitually. It indicates that a particular action is performed each time a specific condition is met.
The phrase highlights the routine nature of the action.
2. Indicating Cause and Effect
Here, “every time” can show a cause-and-effect relationship. It implies that a certain outcome always follows a particular action or event.
This usage helps to establish a clear connection between two occurrences.
3. Specifying Conditions
“Every time” can be used to specify conditions under which something happens. It sets a conditional context, indicating that an action will occur whenever the given condition is satisfied.
This use case is similar to using “whenever.”
4. Narrating Repeated Events
In narrative writing, “every time” can be used to describe events that occur repeatedly within the story. This helps to emphasize the frequency of the events and can add depth to the narrative.
Examples of “Every Time” in Sentences
To fully understand how to use “every time,” it’s helpful to examine a variety of examples. The following tables showcase different contexts and sentence structures where “every time” is correctly employed.
Examples Expressing Habitual Actions
The table below showcases examples of “every time” used to express habitual actions, highlighting routines and regular occurrences.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Every time I drink coffee, I get a headache. | This indicates a recurring consequence of drinking coffee. |
| Every time she visits her grandmother, she brings flowers. | This describes a regular action performed during visits. |
| Every time the phone rings, the dog barks. | This highlights a routine reaction to the sound of the phone. |
| Every time he goes to the gym, he lifts weights. | This describes a regular activity performed at the gym. |
| Every time we eat pizza, we watch a movie. | This indicates a tradition or habit associated with eating pizza. |
| Every time I travel, I try to learn a few phrases in the local language. | This highlights a regular habit of learning new language skills during travel. |
| Every time she finishes a book, she starts a new one immediately. | This describes a consistent pattern of reading behavior. |
| Every time the sun sets, the birds return to their nests. | This illustrates a natural, recurring event at sunset. |
| Every time he practices the piano, his skills improve. | This shows a direct correlation between practice and improvement. |
| Every time they go camping, they build a campfire. | This indicates a regular activity performed during camping trips. |
| Every time I open my laptop, I check my emails. | This describes a consistent habit of checking emails upon opening the laptop. |
| Every time she goes to the market, she buys fresh produce. | This highlights her habit of purchasing fresh produce at the market. |
| Every time the clock strikes noon, the church bells ring. | This illustrates a recurring event that happens at a specific time. |
| Every time he cooks dinner, he experiments with new recipes. | This describes his consistent approach to cooking, involving experimentation. |
| Every time we visit the beach, we collect seashells. | This indicates a regular activity performed during beach visits. |
| Every time I water the plants, they seem to thrive. | This shows a positive effect of watering the plants. |
| Every time she wears that dress, she receives compliments. | This highlights a recurring positive reaction to her outfit. |
| Every time he walks his dog, he meets new people. | This describes a consistent social interaction that occurs during dog walks. |
| Every time they have a party, they play music and dance. | This indicates a regular set of activities performed at their parties. |
| Every time I try to diet, I crave sweets. | This highlights a recurring challenge when attempting to diet. |
| Every time she travels abroad, she sends postcards to her family. | This describes a consistent habit of sending postcards during international trips. |
| Every time he attends a concert, he buys a souvenir. | This indicates a regular purchase made at concerts. |
| Every time we visit the zoo, we see the monkeys first. | This highlights a consistent pattern of visiting the monkeys first at the zoo. |
| Every time I start a new project, I feel excited. | This describes a consistent emotional response to starting new projects. |
| Every time she bakes cookies, she shares them with her neighbors. | This indicates a regular act of kindness towards her neighbors. |
| Every time he cleans his room, he finds something he had lost. | This shows a recurring discovery made while cleaning his room. |
| Every time we watch that movie, we laugh at the same jokes. | This highlights a consistent reaction to the jokes in the movie. |
| Every time I listen to that song, I feel nostalgic. | This describes a consistent emotional response to hearing the song. |
Examples Indicating Cause and Effect
The following table provides examples of “every time” used to indicate cause and effect relationships, showing how one event consistently leads to another.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Every time it rains, the streets get flooded. | Rain is the cause, and flooding is the effect. |
| Every time I eat spicy food, I get heartburn. | Spicy food is the cause, and heartburn is the effect. |
| Every time the baby cries, the mother picks him up. | The baby crying is the cause, and the mother picking him up is the effect. |
| Every time the alarm goes off, I hit the snooze button. | The alarm going off is the cause, and hitting the snooze button is the effect. |
| Every time the temperature drops, the leaves change color. | The temperature drop is the cause, and the leaves changing color is the effect. |
| Every time I forget to water my plants, they start to wilt. | Forgetting to water the plants is the cause, and wilting is the effect. |
| Every time she practices her violin, her playing becomes more refined. | Practicing the violin is the cause, and improved playing is the effect. |
| Every time the wind blows strongly, the trees sway dramatically. | Strong wind is the cause, and the trees swaying is the effect. |
| Every time he stays up late, he feels tired the next day. | Staying up late is the cause, and feeling tired is the effect. |
| Every time they argue, they eventually reconcile. | Arguing is the cause, and reconciliation is the eventual effect. |
| Every time I drink too much coffee, I have trouble sleeping. | Drinking too much coffee is the cause, and having trouble sleeping is the effect. |
| Every time she smiles, the room lights up. | Her smile is the cause, and the room lighting up (metaphorically) is the effect. |
| Every time the stock market crashes, investors panic. | The stock market crashing is the cause, and investors panicking is the effect. |
| Every time he exercises regularly, he feels more energetic. | Regular exercise is the cause, and feeling more energetic is the effect. |
| Every time they collaborate on a project, they achieve great results. | Collaboration is the cause, and achieving great results is the effect. |
| Every time I speak in public, I feel nervous. | Speaking in public is the cause, and feeling nervous is the effect. |
| Every time she helps someone, she feels a sense of fulfillment. | Helping someone is the cause, and feeling fulfilled is the effect. |
| Every time he listens to classical music, he feels relaxed. | Listening to classical music is the cause, and feeling relaxed is the effect. |
| Every time they travel to a new place, they learn something new. | Traveling to a new place is the cause, and learning something new is the effect. |
| Every time I give someone a compliment, they smile. | Giving a compliment is the cause, and the person smiling is the effect. |
| Every time she expresses her gratitude, she strengthens her relationships. | Expressing gratitude is the cause, and strengthening relationships is the effect. |
| Every time he meditates, he finds inner peace. | Meditating is the cause, and finding inner peace is the effect. |
| Every time they confront a challenge, they grow stronger. | Confronting a challenge is the cause, and growing stronger is the effect. |
| Every time I read a good book, I feel inspired. | Reading a good book is the cause, and feeling inspired is the effect. |
| Every time she learns a new skill, she feels more confident. | Learning a new skill is the cause, and feeling more confident is the effect. |
| Every time he sets a goal, he works hard to achieve it. | Setting a goal is the cause, and working hard to achieve it is the effect. |
| Every time they support each other, they overcome obstacles. | Supporting each other is the cause, and overcoming obstacles is the effect. |
| Every time I share my knowledge, I learn something new. | Sharing knowledge is the cause, and learning something new is the effect. |
Examples Specifying Conditions
This table illustrates how “every time” is used to specify conditions under which certain actions or events occur, setting a conditional context for the sentence.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Every time you press this button, the machine starts. | The machine starts only when the button is pressed. |
| Every time she sings, the audience applauds. | The audience applauds whenever she sings. |
| Every time he travels, he sends a postcard. | He sends a postcard on each occasion that he travels. |
| Every time we go to the park, we feed the ducks. | Feeding the ducks happens whenever we visit the park. |
| Every time the sun shines, I feel happy. | My happiness is conditional on the sun shining. |
| Every time you practice diligently, you improve your skills. | Skill improvement is conditional on diligent practice. |
| Every time she volunteers at the shelter, she feels fulfilled. | Her sense of fulfillment is conditional on volunteering. |
| Every time he reads a book, he learns something new. | Learning something new is conditional on reading a book. |
| Every time they visit their grandparents, they bring a gift. | Bringing a gift is conditional on visiting their grandparents. |
| Every time I try a new recipe, I follow the instructions carefully. | Following instructions carefully is conditional on trying a new recipe. |
| Every time you ask for help, you receive support. | Receiving support is conditional on asking for help. |
| Every time she listens to music, she feels inspired. | Her inspiration is conditional on listening to music. |
| Every time he sets a goal, he works hard to achieve it. | Working hard is conditional on setting a goal. |
| Every time they collaborate, they produce innovative solutions. | Producing innovative solutions is conditional on collaboration. |
| Every time I express gratitude, I feel happier. | My happiness is conditional on expressing gratitude. |
| Every time you challenge yourself, you grow stronger. | Growing stronger is conditional on challenging yourself. |
| Every time she shares her knowledge, she learns something new. | Learning something new is conditional on sharing knowledge. |
| Every time he meditates, he finds inner peace. | Finding inner peace is conditional on meditating. |
| Every time they support each other, they overcome obstacles. | Overcoming obstacles is conditional on supporting each other. |
| Every time I give someone a compliment, I brighten their day. | Brightening their day is conditional on giving a compliment. |
| Every time you practice empathy, you deepen your understanding of others. | Deepening understanding is conditional on practicing empathy. |
| Every time she seeks feedback, she improves her performance. | Improving performance is conditional on seeking feedback. |
| Every time he embraces change, he discovers new opportunities. | Discovering new opportunities is conditional on embracing change. |
| Every time they foster creativity, they generate innovative ideas. | Generating innovative ideas is conditional on fostering creativity. |
Usage Rules
The primary rule to remember is that “every time” is the correct form, while “everytime” is generally considered incorrect. Here are some additional rules to ensure proper usage:
- Use “every time” as two separate words. It should never be written as one word (“everytime”).
- “Every time” is followed by a clause. This clause typically includes a subject and a verb.
- The clause following “every time” can be in any tense. The tense depends on the context and the timing of the action.
- “Every time” can be used at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. When it starts a sentence, it’s often followed by a comma.
Exceptions and Special Cases: While “everytime” is generally incorrect, it might occasionally appear in informal writing or speech. However, in formal settings, it’s always best to use “every time.”
Common Mistakes
The most common mistake is writing “every time” as one word (“everytime”). Here are some examples of correct and incorrect usage:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Everytime I go there, it’s crowded. | Every time I go there, it’s crowded. | “Everytime” should be written as two words: “every time.” |
| I feel happy everytime I see you. | I feel happy every time I see you. | Again, “everytime” is incorrect; use “every time.” |
| Everytime she laughs, I smile. | Every time she laughs, I smile. | The correct form is “every time,” not “everytime.” |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with these practice exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct phrase: “every time.”
Exercise 1
Complete the following sentences using “every time.”
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| __________ I eat chocolate, I feel better. | Every time I eat chocolate, I feel better. |
| __________ she practices, she improves. | Every time she practices, she improves. |
| __________ the phone rings, the dog barks. | Every time the phone rings, the dog barks. |
| __________ he travels, he buys a souvenir. | Every time he travels, he buys a souvenir. |
| __________ we go to the beach, we swim. | Every time we go to the beach, we swim. |
| __________ I see a rainbow, I make a wish. | Every time I see a rainbow, I make a wish. |
| __________ she wears red, she gets compliments. | Every time she wears red, she gets compliments. |
| __________ he cooks, he tries a new recipe. | Every time he cooks, he tries a new recipe. |
| __________ they visit, they bring a gift. | Every time they visit, they bring a gift. |
| __________ I study, I learn something new. | Every time I study, I learn something new. |
Exercise 2
Rewrite the following sentences, correcting any instances of “everytime” to “every time.”
| Question (Incorrect) | Answer (Correct) |
|---|---|
| Everytime I try to call, the line is busy. | Every time I try to call, the line is busy. |
| She smiles everytime she sees me. | She smiles every time she sees me. |
| Everytime it snows, the city shuts down. | Every time it snows, the city shuts down. |
| I get nervous everytime I have to speak in public. | I get nervous every time I have to speak in public. |
| Everytime he exercises, he feels better. | Every time he exercises, he feels better. |
| Everytime she listens to music, she feels relaxed. | Every time she listens to music, she feels relaxed. |
| Everytime they work together, they succeed. | Every time they work together, they succeed. |
| Everytime I read a book, I learn something. | Every time I read a book, I learn something. |
| Everytime you practice, you improve. | Every time you practice, you improve. |
| Everytime she helps someone, she feels happy. | Every time she helps someone, she feels happy. |
Exercise 3
Create sentences using “every time” based on the given prompts.
| Prompt | Answer |
|---|---|
| Eating ice cream… | Every time I eat ice cream, I feel happy. |
| Visiting my family… | Every time I visit my family, we play board games. |
| The sun rises… | Every time the sun rises, the birds start singing. |
| I drink tea… | Every time I drink tea, I feel calm. |
| She sings a song… | Every time she sings a song, everyone listens. |
| He tells a joke… | Every time he tells a joke, we all laugh. |
| They go hiking… | Every time they go hiking, they take amazing photos. |
| I write in my journal… | Every time I write in my journal, I reflect on my day. |
| She dances… | Every time she dances, she expresses her emotions. |
| He paints… | Every time he paints, he creates a masterpiece. |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, it’s helpful to understand how “every time” relates to similar phrases and more complex grammatical structures.
“Whenever” vs. “Every Time”: “Whenever” is often interchangeable with “every time.” Both phrases indicate that something happens on each occasion. However, “whenever” can also imply a sense of spontaneity or unpredictability, while “every time” emphasizes regularity.
Example: “Whenever I go to the park, I see squirrels.” (Implies it’s not always expected.) “Every time I go to the park, I see squirrels.” (Implies it’s a regular occurrence.)
“Each Time” vs. “Every Time”: “Each time” is very similar to “every time” and can often be used interchangeably. Both phrases mean “on each occasion.” The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.
Using “Every Time” with Different Tenses: The tense of the verb in the clause following “every time” should be consistent with the context. For example, you can use past tense to describe past events, present tense for current habits, and future tense for future plans.
Example (Past): “Every time I visited my grandmother, she baked cookies.”
Example (Present): “Every time I exercise, I feel healthier.”
Example (Future): “Every time I travel abroad, I will try new foods.”
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about “every time” and its usage:
- Is “everytime” ever correct?
No, “everytime” is generally considered incorrect in formal writing. Always use “every time” as two separate words. - Can I use “whenever” instead of “every time”?
Yes, “whenever” is often interchangeable with “every time,” but “whenever” can sometimes imply more spontaneity. - What tense should I use after “every time”?
The tense depends on the context of the sentence. You can use past, present, or future tense as needed. - Does “every time” always come at the beginning of a sentence?
No, “every time” can appear at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. When it starts a sentence, it’s usually followed by a comma. - Is there a difference between “each time” and “every time”?
“Each time” and “every time” are very similar and often interchangeable. The choice between them is usually a matter of style. - Can “every time” be used in questions?
Yes, although it’s less common. For example: “Every time you go there, do you see him?” - What part of speech is “every time”?
“Every time” functions as an adverbial phrase, acting as an adverb of time. - Is it okay to use “every time” in formal writing?
Yes, “every time” is perfectly acceptable in formal writing as long as it’s used correctly (as two separate words). - How can I remember to use “every time” correctly?
Practice writing sentences using “every time” and consciously avoid writing it as one word. Reviewing examples and doing exercises can also help solidify the correct usage. - What are some common alternatives to “every time”?
Some alternatives include “each time,” “whenever,” “on every occasion,” “each instance,” and “always when.”
Conclusion
Mastering the correct usage of “every time” is essential for clear and accurate communication in English. Remember that “every time” should always be written as two separate words, while “everytime” is generally considered incorrect.
By understanding its definition, structure, and usage rules, you can confidently incorporate this phrase into your writing and speech. Practice using “every time” in various contexts and be mindful of common mistakes to avoid errors.
With consistent effort, you can significantly improve your grammar skills and express yourself more effectively.
The key takeaways from this article are to always use “every time” as two words, understand its function as an adverbial phrase indicating frequency, and practice using it in different sentence structures. Keep practicing, and you’ll master this aspect of English grammar in no time!