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"even at all"I've looked the words up in various dictionaries and I have not found a meaning for the phrase.Apparently its position is at the final of sentences.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,
Pese give us an examle of a sentence in which you found this phrase.

Thanks, Clive

BarbaraPA · Answer

hi comdanilo, and welcome to English Forums.

Can you please provide a few examples of the complete sentences in which you've read read this?

I saw a few that had this meaning: ...for [something to happen] at least a little bit -- or even at all. This means that it's possible for something to happen, even in a flawed way, but also possible it won't happen in any way whatsoever.

It describes the possibility of something partially happening (the correct use of contraceptives was one example) -- or contraceptives not being used "at all." That means the complete absense of the use of contraceptives.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Please post the entire sentence so we have some context. Perhaps it is used for emphasis.

Yanan27 · Answer

Hi!
Neither do I know this phrase. Can you list some examples? Thanks!

Comdanilo · Answer

I'm reading two articles and found these two phrases:

first -> I will show you why some people learnt english for 12 years or more but still can't use it properly or even at all.

_{second -> I rather doubt that all 20 million make vowel length phonemic regularly, or even at all. In any case, there are hundreds of millions of other native English speakers who don't.}

Comdanilo · Answer

Thanks Grammar Greek!
Only now I read your post entirely, and now I can understand!

Thanks to all!

Clive · Answer

Hi,
I'm reading two articles and found these two phrases:

first -> I will show you why some people learnt english for 12 years or more but still can't use it properly or even at all. They can't use English even in the smallest possible way.

_{second -> I rather doubt that all 20 million make vowel length phonemic regularly, or even at all.
In any case, there are hundreds of millions of other native English speakers who don't.}

The phrase is not well used here. It seems perhaps to mean 'maybe even none of the 20 million people do this'. It's an odd kind of thing to say.

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Consider this example.

I can't cook. A simple negative statement.

I can't cook at all. 'At all' means 'not in the least, not in any small way'. eg I can't boil an egg.

I can't cook even at all. the word 'even' emphatically invites the listener to compare the statement to an implied statement that is less extreme. It's like saying to the listener, 'Don't even think I can just do some small simple kinds of cooking.'

Best wishes, Clive

Comdanilo · Answer

Thanks very much!

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