One after another: Do you ever struggle to describe events that happen continuously, without a break? Whether you’re talking about victories, working long hours, or winning streaks, English has several useful expressions to help you sound more natural and fluent!
In this lesson, we’ll explore various ways to express the idea of “one after another” in different contexts.
1. Back-to-Back (Adjective)
Meaning: Happening one after another, without interruption.
This phrase is commonly used when referring to achievements, victories, or events that occur in succession.
👉 Example Sentences:
- Hamilton is celebrating back-to-back victories in the German and British Grands Prix.
- The team played two back-to-back matches and won both!
- We had back-to-back meetings all day. It was exhausting!
2. Consecutively (Adverb)
Meaning: Following one after another in a continuous series.
This term is often used when referring to actions performed without a break.
👉 Example Sentences:
- Some laboratory staff members worked 24 hours consecutively.
- He smoked four cigarettes consecutively. (Not a healthy habit! )
- The students attended three classes consecutively without a break.
3. In Succession (Adverbial Phrase)
Meaning: Happening one after another without interruption.
This phrase is useful for describing repeated occurrences.
👉 Example Sentences:
- They reached the World Cup final for the third time in succession.
- He fired two shots in quick succession. (Used often in crime stories! )
- The factory produced 1,000 units in succession without any errors.
4. On the Trot (UK Informal)
Meaning: One after the other (used informally in British English).
If you want to sound more like a native Brit, this phrase is a great addition to your vocabulary! 🇬🇧
👉 Example Sentences:
- They won three games on the trot.
- The class has been cancelled three weeks on the trot now.
- I’ve had early morning shifts four days on the trot. I need a break!
5. Consecutive (Adjective)
Meaning: Following one after another in a series, without interruption.
This word is useful for talking about numbers, time periods, or repeated actions.
👉 Example Sentences:
- She was absent for nine consecutive days.
- He did 100 consecutive press-ups. (That’s impressive! )
- They won the championship for three consecutive years.
6. In a Row (Adverbial Phrase)
Meaning: Happening a number of times, one after the other.
This phrase is useful when talking about repeated events.
👉 Example Sentences:
- She’s been out four nights in a row. (Party animal! )
- I’ve beaten her three times in a row.
- It rained five days in a row last week. (Typical British weather! )
7. One After Another / The Other
Meaning: A series of events happening soon after the previous one.
This phrase is great for storytelling or describing sequences of events.
👉 Example Sentences:
- They got married young and had four children one after another.
- The customers walked into the shop one after the other, keeping the staff busy.
- He kept making mistakes one after another during the presentation.
8. Running (Adjective)
Meaning: Consecutive; in succession.
This phrase is often used with numbers and time periods.
👉 Example Sentences:
- You’ve been late three days running. (Not a good habit! )
- They won the trophy for the third year running.
- The show has been performing for five nights running to a full house.
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