Meaning & use
a single time
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
on one occasion only, and not more than once
Grammar: Acts like an adverbial phrase; it normally goes at the end of a sentence, after the verb and object.
Patterns
- do something a single time
- not do something a single time
- happen a single time
I've only been to Paris a single time, and it rained the whole week.
She didn't complain a single time, even though the work was hard.
He read the whole report a single time and then made his decision.
phrasefixed phrase
used with 'not' to emphasize that something never happens at all
Grammar: Common in the pattern 'not ... a single time', where it strengthens the negative.
Patterns
- not once, not a single time
- never ... a single time
He never called me a single time while he was away.
Not a single time did she arrive late for class.
They didn't mention the problem a single time during the meeting.
Common combinations
- not a single time
- Not a single time did he say thank you.
- only a single time
- I've seen her only a single time since she moved.
- a single time a day
- Take the medicine a single time a day, in the morning.
- happen a single time
- This kind of accident happens a single time in a hundred years.
- a single time in my life
- I've flown first class a single time in my life.
Synonyms and how they differ
- once
- The usual everyday word; 'once' is far more common, while 'a single time' adds emphasis and often sounds more pointed.
- one time
- Very close in meaning, but 'one time' is more informal and often used at the start of a story.
- on one occasion
- More formal and slightly literary; better in writing than in casual speech.
Opposites
Commonly confused: a single time or at a time? a single time or single-handedly?
a single time vs at a time
'At a time' means in one group or period, as in 'two at a time'; it does not mean once only.
a single time vs single-handedly
This means doing something alone without help, not doing it once.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'a single time' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase belongs at the end of the clause, after the verb and its object, so 'visited his grandmother a single time' is correct. The other options put the phrase in positions where English speakers would not normally place it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a single time”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.