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Vdb Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

sentences

Are the following sentences correct?

1. The number of volunteers were seldom ever enough.

What is the use of the word "ever" here? Is it for emphasis?

2. I am much glad to come and visit you.

3. I am very much glad to come and visit you.
  

Top answer

" I suppose I agree that "seldom ever" might pass in conversation, but to me it certainly looks wrong written down. (2) and (3) are not right.

— GPY

  • " I suppose I agree that "seldom ever" might pass in conversation, but to me it certainly looks wrong written down.
  • (2) and (3) are not right.
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15 Answers
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According to http://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/ever , "Some people regard rarely ever and seldom ever as incorrect, but these phrase are common in speech and in informal writing." I suppose I agree that "seldom ever" might pass in conversation, but to me it certainly looks wrong
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What if I was giving a test on English and I was supposed to pick out the mistakes, if any, from the sentence I mentioned above (the one with seldom ever)? Should I pick out "seldom ever" as a mistake?
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GPYAccording to http://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/ever , "Some people regard rarely ever and seldom ever as incorrect, but these phrase are common in speech and in informal writing." I suppose I agree that "seldom ever" might pass in conversation, but to me it certain
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Hardly ever is correct. It's in all the dictionaries. I want to know about rarely ever/seldom ever, for formal writing, tests, story writing, etc...Please help!
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vdbHardly ever is correct. It's in all the dictionaries. I want to know about rarely ever/seldom ever, for formal writing, tests, story writing, etc...Please help!
I think that GPY has fairly well answered your question.
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Well, GPY said that in writing, rarely/seldom ever is wrong, but in speech that's okay. So, I suppose that it will be considered wrong in an English test too? I have an exam tomorrow, that's why I am freaking out!! Sorry...
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PhilipHardly ever sounds okay to me, though. To you?
Yes, it sounds fine to me.
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The number of... takes the singular form of the verb.

The number of volunteers was ...

The mistake was the form of the verb.
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vdb What if I was giving a test on English and I was supposed to pick out the mistakes, if any, from the sentence I mentioned above (the one with seldom ever)? Should I pick out "seldom ever" as a mistake?
I would.

Actually, though you asked about "ever", the sentence is not good even if that word is removed. On the face of it, "were" should be "was",
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BarbaraPAThe mistake was the form of the verb.
So you don't see "seldom ever" as a mistake?
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