Is "ever" needed for the phrase, [the second seashell I ever got/have ever got]?
I have made up the sentences below.
(1) This is the second seashell I ever got for my collection.
(2) This the second seashell I have ever got for my collection.
All of my non-native English speaking friends think neither one is correct because "ever" only applies to first, not second, third, fourth, and so on.
What is your opinion? Thank you very much.
Top answer
ansonguy (1) This is the second seashell I ever got for my collection. I would accept this in everyday language. ansonguy (2) This the second seashell I have ever got for my collection.
- ansonguy (1) This is the second seashell I ever got for my collection.
- I would accept this in everyday language.
- ansonguy (2) This the second seashell I have ever got for my collection.
- This doesn't sound right.
- The tense gives the impression that you have just recently acquired the seashell, which doesn't fit with "ever", or with the idea that amassing a "collection" should not entail a very long gap between the first and second.
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ansonguy(1) This is the second seashell I ever got for my collection.
I would accept this in everyday language.
ansonguy(2) This the second seashell I have ever got for my collection.
This doesn't sound right. The tense gives the impression that you have just recently acquired the seashell, which doesn't fit with "
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