ENGLISH
REFERENCE

all the time

fixed phr..
A2 Elementary Oxford

fixed phr.. Something that happens 'all the time' happens very often or continuously.

fixed phr.. An adverbial phrase indicating high frequency or continuous occurrence, often used for emphasis.


SIMPLE

My little brother asks questions all the time.

CONTEXTUAL

She has her headphones on all the time, even when she's just walking around the house.

COMPLEX

The politician felt he was under public scrutiny all the time, forcing him to carefully measure every word he spoke.

Usage

This phrase is usually placed at the end of a clause to emphasize frequency.

Teaching tip

Contrast with 'always', which can imply 100% of the time without exception; 'all the time' is a common, slightly hyperbolic substitute for 'very often'.

Pitfall

He watches that show all time.He watches that show all the time.The definite article 'the' is a required part of this fixed phrase.

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