Adverb- ever

Question

Hello,everyoneBelow is my questions about the adverb-everEver means "at any time" and used in negative sentences and questions only ? 1.Nothing ever happens here and nothing ever happened here.2.Don't you ever get tired ? and haven't you ever get tired ?3.I haven't ever gone to Paris and I haven't gone to Paris.What are difference between them ?You are ever  in Miami,come and see us.It means that you can come and see us as long as you are in Miami ?1.Haven't you ever tasted salami ? and Haven't you tasted salami ?2.She hardly ever goes out and she hardly goes out.Any difference between them ?a) We see them very seldom,if ever.What is meant by if ever ?b) I'll never ever do that again!What is meant by never ever ?

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Ever means "at any point in time."

If you are in Miami at any point in the future, come see us.

There's no real difference between Have you ever done X and Have you done X, except that the one with "ever" is more emphatic -- not just recently, not just today, but at any point at all in your entire life.

We do X very seldom, if ever = We may not do it at all, but I won't say "never" because we still may, or we may do it very, very infrequently.

Never ever is emphatic -- emphasizing that until the end of eternity, I won't do it. (It is something more likely said by a child.)

Franklin Ong · Answer

1.Nothing ever happens here and nothing ever happened here.
2.Don't you ever get tired ? and haven't you ever get tired ?

But I still cannot make out what differences are between sentences 1 and 2.

Grammar GeekThere's no real difference between Have you ever done X and Have you done X, except that the one with "ever" is more emphatic -- not just recently, not just today, but at any point at all in your entire life.

As you referred that ever is an emphatic expression.
So,
1) I haven't gone to Paris.It is a normal expression,just telling people as what it means.

2)I haven't ever gone to Paris.But in this case,It is emphasising you never do it before,saying with a little anger or emotion,perhaps.And,usually showing your expectation to go to Paris.Am I thinking in right ?

Grammar GeekNever ever is emphatic -- emphasizing that until the end of eternity, I won't do it. (It is something more likely said by a child.)

So,will adults' conversation include the phrase of never ever ?

Addition,I was not suspecting your answer of the thread referring to the word,lame. But I just hoped I could get more descriptions of a people who has a bag leg.If I have made you feel I had not belief in your answer,I apologise to you here,sorry.

BarbaraPA · Answer

The normal expression is "I've never been to Paris."
The more emphatic is "I haven't ever been to Paris."

I don't associate it with anger. Just emphasis, the same way you might use "do" in a statement.

Franklin Ong1.Nothing ever happens here and nothing ever happened here.

2.Don't you ever get tired ? and haven't you ever get tired ?

1. The first one describes the current state of events. It's a boring place. The second describes something in the past. Where I grew up, it was boring.

2. The first is normal. The second would be "Have you ever gotten (American) tired?" The first could be used to express surprise at the rigorous schedule the person has.It refers to the current situation and the peron's apparently tireless approach to life. The second seems unlikely, since almost everyone has gotten tired at at least some point in their life. It refers to a past event.

Franklin Ong · Answer

Grammar GeekI don't associate it with anger. Just emphasis, the same way you might use "do" in a statement.

I do haven't ever been to Paris.Is the way expressing with a little anger,right ?

Grammar Geek1. The first one describes the current state of events. It's a boring place. The second describes something in the past. Where I grew up, it was boring.

Therefore,when you go to a place,that seems nothing can be happened by you.It can be totally boring in this way such as you are at a desert.So you can say to your friend,maybe,that "Nothing ever happens here!" Correct ?

Nothing ever happened here,I have no idea when I will say this way.Can you make a further explanation ?Thanks.

BarbaraPA · Answer

Franklin Ong
Grammar GeekI don't associate it with anger. Just emphasis, the same way you might use "do" in a statement.
I do haven't ever been to Paris.Is the way expressing with a little anger,right ?

-- Franklin, I'm sorry, but that phrase is completely ungrammatical. We don't use "do" with a form of "to be." I have not EVER been to Paris, in speech, with emphasis on the word "ever" or "I have NEVER been to Paris, with the same emphasis, can show emotion.
Grammar Geek1. The first one describes the current state of events. It's a boring place. The second describes something in the past. Where I grew up, it was boring.
Therefore,when you go to a place,that seems nothing can be happened by you. It can be totally boring in this way such as you are at a desert.So you can say to your friend,maybe,that "Nothing ever happens here!" Correct ?

-- The bold part is ungrammatical. You are sitting with your friend at the corner bar. You are thinking how boring your town is. Nothing every happens here. No concerts, no crime, no scandals, no major sporting events... just small-town life.

Nothing ever happened here,I have no idea when I will say this way.Can you make a further explanation ?Thanks.
-- You return to the town you grew up in. You have your new spouse with you, who says "What a cute little town. It must have been a wonderful place to grow up." You say, "The people were nice and we always managed to have fun, but nothing every happened here."

Alexander OJR · Answer

I don't understand what "Why ever did you agree ?" means ?

Franklin Ong · Answer

Grammar GeekThe bold part is ungrammatical.

Can be happened by you,what is wrong with this sentence ?Doesn't it mean I can happen nothing ?

Grammar GeekYou are sitting with your friend at the corner bar. You are thinking how boring your town is. Nothing every happens here. No concerts, no crime, no scandals, no major sporting events... just small-town life.

Nothing ever happens here does not mean that you can do nothing in the town but the town is very boring because of none any playful things,so make you get nothing to do.

Or, you go to a public house with your friend and then there is little people plus their beer has been sold out,so you might say to your friend that "Nothing ever happens here,let's go to other one! ".Is it correct ?

Grammar Geek"The people were nice and we always managed to have fun, but nothing every happened here."

I cannot make out this sentence.Can you make an explanation in brief ?Thanks

Adverb- ever

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions