Cool MateIt was him vs It was him all the time
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
It was him
Top 2,000 (common)
It was him all the time
Top 2,000 (common)
| It was him | It was him all the time | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪt wəz hɪm//🇺🇸 //ɪt wæz hɪm// | 🇬🇧 //ɪt wəz hɪm ɔːl ðə taɪm//🇺🇸 //ɪt wəz hɪm ɔl ðə taɪm// |
| Meaning | A phrase used to emphasize that a specific person was involved. | He was the one responsible the whole time. |
| Example | It was him who solved the problem first. | After all the investigations, it was him all the time who was stealing from the office. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | it was him who, it was him that, it was definitely him | was him all the time, thought it was someone else, revealed the true identity, the one responsible, put together the clues |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'It was he' in formal contexts., Using 'It was him' incorrectly in the subject position. | Using 'he' instead of 'him' (e.g. 'It was he all the time')., Misplacing the emphasis in the sentence., Using tense incorrectly when referencing past events. |
| Usage notes | Use 'It was him' to clarify or emphasize someone's involvement in a past event. More common in spoken English. Avoid in formal writing. | This phrase is typically used to reveal the identity of someone responsible for an action. It is informal enough for conversations but can be used in neutral contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: It was him vs It was him all the time
What's the difference between It was him and It was him all the time?
It was him: A phrase used to emphasize that a specific person was involved. It was him all the time: He was the one responsible the whole time.
Can you show an example of each?
It was him: It was him who solved the problem first. It was him all the time: After all the investigations, it was him all the time who was stealing from the office.
Can I use It was him and It was him all the time interchangeably?
Not always. It was him and It was him all the 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.