Many speakers of Portuguese language have doubts about the use of expressions sometimes and sometimes. They generate doubts because they are phonetically identical and very similar in writing. The graphic difference of these expressions occurs with the placement of the grave accent in "sometimes", and this generates distinct meaning effects between both expressions.
In order to understand the meaning effects generated by the two expressions, it is necessary to understand the meaning of the graphic sign that differentiates them. O grave accent of the expression sometimes is indicative of back. It is important to remember that the bass accent is not word accentuation, like the acute accent. It is also important to note another rule of the Portuguese Language Grammar that does not allow the accentuation of definite articles (the, the, the, the) and undefined (one, one, one, one).
O grave accent indicative of crasis occurs due to the joining of thepreposition"The"It's from definite article"The", graduating “à”.
See the examples:
I will à fair eat pastry.
À later I'm going to study for the geography exam.
I did not go à class yesterday because I was sick.
See that it is necessary the grave accent to indicate the union of the preposition 'a' with the article 'a', since whoever goes, goes The somewhere: I'm going (to + a = to) the fair to eat pastel."
THE back it also occurs with the union of the definite article "a" with some demonstrative pronouns:
a + that = that one: Go to that restaurant I told you about. (Those who go, go somewhere: Go to + that restaurant I indicated.)
-
the + that = that one: Ask that teacher to teach you this subject. (Anyone who asks, asks someone for something: Ask + the teacher to teach you this subject.)
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
a + that = that one: Pay attention to what the priest says.
Now observe the definitions and meaning effects of each of the expressions:
Sometimes
When there is crash, the expression generates the sense of time. That's because there is a adverbial phrase of time which is synonymous with "On occasion".
See the examples:
Sometimes I want to be alone. (On occasion)
I will work by bus sometimes, but I usually ride with my neighbor. (On occasion)
I don't feel happysometimes, but this is normal. (On occasion)
my cousin is very annoying sometimes. (On occasion)
Sometimes
When no there is crasis, the expression results from the union of the female plural article 'at'likefeminine nounin plural 'times'. In this case, the meaning of the expression no it's time, but, yea, synonymous with "the occasions", "the moments".
See the examples:
All sometimesI go up this street I get scared. (the occasions)
Which wassometimes that I disrespected you? (the occasions)
were important sometimes that I shut up. (the occasions)
All sometimesIf that happens, you will be grounded. (the occasions)
As we have seen, the two expressions can be used depending on the situation and the meaning effect intended by the writer. One is indicative of time (sometimes) and the other is indicative of occasion/moment (sometimes). Keep following our grammar tips and good studies!
By Ma. Luciana Kuchenbecker Araújo
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
ARAúJO, Luciana Kuchenbecker. "Sometimes or sometimes?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/as-vezes-ou-as-vezes.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
