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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

regularity

Do you agree the the below sentences and the use of “always” in them imply regularity?

You are always smiling.
He (always) eats dinner at 8pm.

Thanks!
  

Top answer

Anonymous Do you agree the the below sentences and the use of “always” in them imply regularity? The second does because it states a time. The first does not suggest any regularity,only frequentness or recurrence.

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous Do you agree the the below sentences and the use of “always” in them imply regularity?
  • The second does because it states a time.
  • The first does not suggest any regularity,only frequentness or recurrence.
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14 Answers
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AnonymousDo you agree the the below sentences and the use of “always” in them imply regularity?
The second does because it states a time. The first does not suggest any regularity,only frequentness or recurrence.
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Thanks for your help teacher.
Mister MicawberThe second does because it states a time. The first does not suggest any regularity,only frequentness or recurrence.
Yes, I also can see that the second suggests frequentness or recurrence or maybe a habbit!

How about “he always smiles whenever he eats”. I think this suggest regularity, do you agree?
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AnonymousHow about “he always smiles whenever he eats”. I think this suggest regularity, do you agree?
It depends on the regularity of his habits (which we do not know); if he is like me, he could eat lunch any time between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
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Mister MicawberIt depends on the regularity of his habits (which we do not know); if he is like me, he could eat lunch any time between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Well if that is the case. Are you saying that would be more of a habit regularity, in which he always smile when he eats?
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Anonymous lunch any time between 10:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
No, I don't call that regular. That's why I suggested the possibility.
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Mister MicawberNo, I don't call that regular. That's why I suggested the possibility.
Oh I see. So to be regular there has to be some time point, and that sentence by itself with the ‘smile’, implies frequentness or recurrence only as you said. Right?

To illustrate,

"He always smiles whenever he eats” implies frequentness or recurrence of smi
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I don't wish to say that it is that strict but just suggest that 'regularity' should not be an automatic assumption. You certainly do not always require a specific time reference; howeverl, you do need consensus between speaker and listener on what is regular (in the sense 'arranged so that there is the same amount of time between events') and what is not. Most people would agree that meals are
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Mister MicawberI don't wish to say that it is that strict but just suggest that 'regularity' should not be an automatic assumption. You certainly do not always require a specific time reference; howeverl, you do need consensus between speaker and listener on what is regular (in the sense 'arranged so that there is the same amount of time between events') and what is not.
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AnonymousSo if both persons know what we are talking about it could suggest regularity, as in the sentences above. Would that be true?
Right.
AnonymousWhat about if I say “He exercises in the morning”. Would that be considered regularity?
Yes. (And it does mention a specific 'time'). These also are regular:

I bu
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Mister MicawberRight.
Great!
Mister MicawberYes. (And it does mention a specific 'time'). These also are regular:I buy a new suit in the spring.The Earth passes through an Ice Age every 500,000 years.
Got it.

I also sometimes think that “habit” and “regularity” can be the same thing, as in what is a habit can also b
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