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Never ... Ever - English lesson
1) NEVER : = negative adverb which means 'AT NO TIME'. It is placed before a simple verb, but between the auxiliary and the verb with compound tenses :
ex : I never sing in public.
ex : I have never met such a great artist !
- The verb accompanying it is always in the affirmative form (
a very serious mistake consists in making a 'double negation')
ex : Very young children never say 'please' spontaneously ...
ex : I've never seen such a rude child !
- To avoid the double negation as mentioned above, 'never' is never used with : 'not, nobody,nothing'. In that case, 'EVER' must be used. You also have to resort to 'ever' with semi-negatives : hardly, scarcely, barely ...
ex : Nobody ever helps him, he's not popular at all ..
ex : I hardly ever see my brother ... It's a pity !
- Never say die ! = Never give up ! (to give up ON sobody/something) = to abandon .
2) EVER : = adverb of time -
ex : Do you ever go dancing ? No, never !
ex : Have you ever met her brother who lives in the US ?
ex : I sometimes watch football, but I’m not a fan …
- Mind the superlative in the sentence
ex : He’s the best tennis player I have ever played with !
ex : If ever you meet this singer, ask an autograph for me, please !
- 'ever' can mean 'always ) in a few expressions : for ever/ forever ; ever since ; yours ever .
I 'm an incurable optimist ! That's true ... But here, for the sake of the exercise, I had to overdo it a little ...
Will you forgive me ?

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