Grammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 6
Structure of 毎(ごと)に:
Verb + ごとに
Noun + ごとに
Details about 毎(ごと)に:
ごとに is an combination of the noun ごと, and the particle に. Together, they are used adverbially to express that something happens 'every (A)', or 'at intervals of (A)'. ごとに may be used after any verb (usually in non-past form), or noun.
- 私は彼に会うごとに、「何を食べたい?」と聞かれます。Everytime I see him, he asks me 'What do you want to eat?'
- 私は3時間ごとにお菓子を食べます。I eat snacks every 3 hours.
毎(ごと)に
Usage Notes for 毎(ごと)に:
ごと is the 訓読み (Japanese reading) of the kanji 毎, which means 'every'. This fact will be important when trying to remember the difference between ごとに, and おきに, a similar grammar point which also means 'every', but focuses more on 'intervals'. Due to おきに focusing on the space between 'each', there are sentences where おきに and ごとに will have different meanings.
(A) ごとに = Every (A)
(A) おきに = Every spaced repetition of (A)
- 私は一週間ごとに実家に帰ります。I go to my parents' home every week. (Every single one)
- 私は一週間おきに実家に帰り ます。I go to my parents' home every other week. (Every single interval of one)
(A) ごとに = Every (A)
(A) おきに = Every spaced repetition of (A)
Synonyms for 毎(ごと)に:
に (Frequency)
Times (In each time period), Every, Frequency of
まい~のように
Almost every ~, Nearly every ~, On a ~ basis
たびに
Each time, Every time, Whenever
おきに
Repeated at intervals, Every other, Every, At intervals of
につけ
Whenever, Every time something happens
Example of 毎(ごと)に
彼女は運転中、赤信号ごとに、携帯を見る。
She looks at her phone at every red light while driving.
出かけるごとに忘れ物をする。
Every time I go out I forget something.
夏ごとにアメリカに帰ります。
Every summer I go back to America.
生徒ごとに紙を渡した。
I gave a paper to every student. (Each)
二日ごとに友達とサッカーをする。
I play soccer with my friend every two days.
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