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Mitsuo23 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

"have you ever" vs "did you ever"

Hi,

What is the difference between "did you ever" and "have you ever"?

I feel "did you ever" sounds grammatically incorrect because "ever" implies a long period of time and it is not pointing at a certain time. But practically I hear that kind of expression a lot.

Will you explain the difference?

Thanks,
M
  

Top answer

There is seldom any difference. Both the past tense and the present perfect are commonly used with ever, never and always: The coldest winter I [have] ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. (Mark Twain) The past tense is probably more common in American English than British English.

— Cool Breeze

  • There is seldom any difference.
  • Both the past tense and the present perfect are commonly used with ever, never and always: The coldest winter I [have] ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.
  • (Mark Twain) The past tense is probably more common in American English than British English.
  • CB
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2 Answers
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There is seldom any difference. Both the past tense and the present perfect are commonly used with ever, never and always:

The coldest winter I [have] ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. (Mark Twain)

The past tense is probably more common in American English than British English.

CB
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