Cool MateNow vs This time
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Now
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
This time
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Now
| Now | This time | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/naʊ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/naʊ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðɪs taɪm//🇺🇸 //ðɪs taɪm// |
| Meaning | at this moment or time | Now, not any other time. |
| Example | I am reading a book now. | I will succeed this time. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | now or never, from now on, now and then | this time around, this time tomorrow, this time next week |
| Antonyms | later, after | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'then' when referring to time., Using 'now' too formally in written communication., Overusing 'now' in conversation, leading to redundancy. | Using 'this time' when referring to future times instead of present., Confusing 'this time' with 'next time' which refers to a future instance. |
| Usage notes | Used to indicate the present time. Avoid using 'now' in very formal contexts where 'currently' might be more appropriate. | Use 'this time' to emphasize the current occasion. It works in both spoken and written contexts, often for contrasting previous experiences. |
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Frequently asked questions: Now vs This time
What's the difference between Now and This time?
Now: at this moment or time This time: Now, not any other time.
Which is more common: Now and This time?
Now is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Now: I am reading a book now. This time: I will succeed this time.
Can I use Now and This time interchangeably?
Not always. Now and This time are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.