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Henryh Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

ever vs yet

Hello Teachers,

Please help with the followings.

At school I was taught that 'ever' (and also 'never') used with the present perfect simple refers to experience and 'already' and 'yet' imply that something was done earlier than it was meant or undone around the time of speaking.

Yet, I sometimes hear people use 'ever', 'never' and 'yet' interchangeably to mean experience.

Do they in fact mean the same or they should be distinguished as I have just said?

Eg.
Have you ever eaten salmon? (To me it means throughout your entire life)
Have you eaten salmon yet? (To me it means eg at dinner the host asking me if I want to have some otherwise he will take away the plate.)

Or

I have never ridden a camel.
I haven't ridden a camel yet.

(I don't think they mean the same, do they? Can they both refer to experience???)

Thanks a lot.

Bye,
Henry
  

Top answer

Henryh Have you ever eaten salmon? (To me it means throughout your entire life) Have you eaten salmon yet? ) This interpretation is basically correct, but the second one isn't really asking if you want some salmon.

  • Henryh Have you ever eaten salmon?
  • (To me it means throughout your entire life) Have you eaten salmon yet?
  • ) This interpretation is basically correct, but the second one isn't really asking if you want some salmon.
  • Have you ever eaten salmon?
  • does mean 'throughout your entire life'.
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1 Answers
0
HenryhHave you ever eaten salmon? (To me it means throughout your entire life)
Have you eaten salmon yet? (To me it means eg at dinner the host asking me if I want to have some otherwise he will take away the plate.)
This interpretation is basically correct, but the second one isn't really asking if you want some salmon.
Have you ever eaten salm

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