Several times

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello!
I would like to know if “several times” can be ușed with past simple. “Several times” can be ușed with present perfect: “We have visited this country several times.” but what about past simple?
Thank you for your time!

2

I washed my hands several times during the day.
I awoke several times in the night.
I yawned several times during the conversation.

3

Hello, Beeeesneees!

I can distinguish the phrases at night and in the night. I just have two questions concerning the phrases.

  1. Can the phrase at night be used in place of in the night in this sentence?
  2. Can the preposition 'during" be used in liue of ‘in’ (i.e. during the night)?

Thanks in advance.

4
  1. ‘at night’ cannot be used here with exactly the same meaning and same phrasing.

I awoke several times in the night.
I awoke several times during the night.

  • both the above refer to a particular night.

I’m struggling to find an example that close to the original which uses ‘at night’, but ‘at night’ does not refer to a particular night. It is more akin to ‘by night’.
Owls fly at night.
He would come at night.