JLPT N5 · Time & sequence
いつも (itsumo)
いつも～ — “always / usually”
In short · An adverb for something that happens nearly every time, or as a habit. In affirmative sentences it describes regular behavior.
Pattern
-
いつも＋動詞いつも + verb (いつも六時に起きます)
How to use it
Use it to talk about habits (いつもお茶を飲みます). It goes before the verb.
With a negative
いつも〜ない means “not always”, so it happens sometimes. It is not the same as “never.”
Related words
よく means often and ときどき means sometimes. いつも is the highest frequency.
Examples
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私（わたし）はいつも六時（ろくじ）に起（お）きます。
Watashi wa itsumo rokuji ni okimasu.
I always get up at six.
-
母（はは）はいつも朝（あさ）ご飯（はん）を作（つく）ります。
Haha wa itsumo asagohan o tsukurimasu.
My mother always makes breakfast.
-
私（わたし）はいつもお茶（ちゃ）を飲（の）みます。
Watashi wa itsumo ocha o nomimasu.
I always drink tea.
Common mistakes
- いつも〜ません does not mean “never.” For that use 全然 or 一度も.
- Do not confuse it with いつ (when).
More grammar points
- まだ まだ～ — “still” / “not yet”
- まだ～ていません まだ～ていません — “I haven’t ～ yet”
- 前（まえ）に ～前に — “before ～”
- もう もう～ — “already” / “not any more”
- それから それから — “and then / after that”
- てから ～てから — “after ～ing”
- とき ～とき — “when ～”
- は は (wa) — the topic particle
- を を (o) — the object particle
- に に (ni) — time, destination, location
- で で (de) — place of action & means
- と と (to) — and / together with
- の の (no) — possessive & noun linker
- へ へ (e) — direction
- も も (mo) — also / too
- か か (ka) — the question marker
- です です (desu) — the copula
- から から・まで — from … to …
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