New here? This is lesson 81 of a free 238-lesson Spanish course.
Not every day in Spanish
Justin compares his routines with Amanda and Yako outside Café Laurel. Some things happen rarely, sometimes, or all the time.
You'll also say what you hardly do these days, what you never do at night, and what you do less than before.
The funny part is that Justin refuses to pretend he's quitting one favorite activity.
By the end of this lesson
Say how often you do something and compare your current habits with before.
- Yo rara vez ___I rarely ___
- Yo ___ de vez en cuandoI ___ once in a while
- Yo ___ todo el tiempoI ___ all the time
- Últimamente casi no ___I hardly ___ these days
- Nunca ___ en la nocheI never ___ at night
- Ya no tanto como antesNot as much as I used to
Scene — routines before work
Early morning outside Café Laurel. Amanda is heading out to work, while Yako sits on his usual two chairs and asks Justin about daily routines.
Justin has no job yet, so the conversation stays focused on what he does in his free time.
Learn — how often
These chunks let you place an action on a frequency scale, from rarely to all the time.
The last two help you describe a recent change and a nighttime habit.
Yo rara vez ___
I rarely ___
When to use it: Say this before an action you do only on rare occasions.
Rara vez means rarely; learn the whole chunk with the action after it.
Yo ___ de vez en cuando
I ___ once in a while
When to use it: Use this for an action that happens sometimes, but not regularly.
De vez en cuando means once in a while and usually comes after the action.
Yo ___ todo el tiempo
I ___ all the time
When to use it: Say this when an action happens constantly or very often.
Todo el tiempo means all the time; it comes after the action.
Últimamente casi no ___
I hardly ___ these days
When to use it: Use this for something you have hardly done recently.
Últimamente means these days, and casi no means hardly or almost not.
Nunca ___ en la noche
I never ___ at night
When to use it: Say this to describe an action you never do at night.
Nunca means never; en la noche specifies the nighttime period.
Ya no tanto como antes
Not as much as I used to
When to use it: Use this when you still do something, but less than before.
Ya no tanto como antes compares now with an earlier habit.
Story — not every day
Watch Justin describe several routines while Amanda heads to work. The highlighted chunks show different levels of frequency.
Yako's question reveals one habit Justin still does constantly. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- It's early morning. Amanda is leaving for work, and Yako is balanced across two chairs.
Amanda¿Cómo estás?How are you?
JustinBien, gracias. ¿Sales todos los días?I'm good, thanks. Do you go out every day?- AmandaSí, salgo todos los días para trabajar.Yes, I go out every day to work.
Yako¿Y tú, Justin?And you, Justin?- JustinYo rara vez salgo.I rarely go out.
- Yako¿Qué haces de vez en cuando?What do you do once in a while?
- JustinYo cocino de vez en cuando.I cook once in a while.
- Amanda¿Qué haces todo el tiempo?What do you do all the time?
- JustinYo veo series todo el tiempo.I watch series all the time.
- Yako¿Y últimamente cocinas?And do you cook these days?
- JustinÚltimamente casi no cocino.I hardly cook these days.
- Amanda¿Ves series en la noche?Do you watch series at night?
- JustinNunca veo series en la noche.I never watch series at night.
- YakoEntonces, ¿cocinas menos?So, do you cook less?
- JustinYa no tanto como antes.Not as much as I used to.
Practice — frequency choices
You'll listen, match meanings, choose replies, and check which frequency fits each situation.
Watch the action after each frequency expression, and use the skip button whenever you need it.
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What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Spanish
Yo rara vez ___Drop the English hereYo ___ de vez en cuandoDrop the English here___ todos los díasDrop the English hereEnglish
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
¿Cómo estás?
What do you say?
What do you say?
You almost never go out. Say that you rarely go out.
Pick the reply
Yako says:
Pick the reply
¿Qué haces de vez en cuando?
What do you do once in a while?
And you reply with:
True or false?
True or false?
This chunk says you do the action constantly.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Últimamente casi no ___
What do you say?
What do you say?
You do not watch series at night at all. Say what you never do.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You still watch series, but less often than before. Say that comparison.
Say it — talk about routines
Now you're Justin. Amanda and Yako will ask about your routines, and you'll answer with the frequency chunks.
Tap ▶ to hear each model line if you want it. Tap the microphone for your turn; your recording stays on your device.
- Amanda¿Sales todos los días?Do you go out every day?
- Justin (you)Say that you rarely go out.
Say that you rarely go out.
Yo rara vez ___
I rarely ___
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Recap — what you can say now
| Spanish | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Yo rara vez ___ | I rarely ___ | |
| Yo ___ de vez en cuando | I ___ once in a while | |
| Yo ___ todo el tiempo | I ___ all the time | |
| Últimamente casi no ___ | I hardly ___ these days | |
| Nunca ___ en la noche | I never ___ at night | |
| Ya no tanto como antes | Not as much as I used to |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these frequency chunks handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick daily review helps you compare rarely, sometimes, and all the time.
Open Yak Cards