Ever

Question

This is the best movie I have ever seen.
This is the best movie I have seen.

This is the weirdest move I've ever done.
This is the weirdest move I've done.

Can I omit 'ever' in these cases without changing the meanings of the sentences?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

If you remove ' ever', you are removing a strong feeling of emphasis.

Clive

Whatchadoin · Answer

Thank you.

The meaning will not change if I omit 'ever'? Will other speakers be confused?

Have you done that?
Have you ever done that?

Will they maybe take the first one to mean something like "Have you done that (this month)?"?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

The original sentences that I commented on were different. In particular, they contained superlatives.

With regard to your new sentences, consider that the context usually makes the meaning clear.

eg If I ask 'Have you climbed Mount Everest?', the listener is unlikely to wonder if I am just talking about this month.

eg But if I say to my wife, 'I'm thirsty. Have you made tea?', she is unlikely to think I am asking about her entire life-time.

Clive

Joelackey92 · Answer

Anytime you use the word "ever," such as in your examples, you are letting the reader/listener know that this one thing (movie, move, etc.) is far greater than the other movies or moves you have seen. "Have you done that?" and "Have you ever done that?" are similar, but they do have different meanings. Like I said before, anytime you use the word "ever," you are adding emphasis. "Have you EVER done that?" is asking about something that you might have done a long time ago, whereas "Have you done that?" might mean that you are asking about something recently. "Have you EVER been on that roller coaster?" "Have you EVER ridden a horse?" Typically, these questions are referring to things that happened a long time ago. So, yes, whatchadoin, you are correct. "Have you done that?" usually means something recently, or, as you said, something done this month.

Ever

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