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Never or Ever - English lesson

1) NEVER: adverb of frequency; at no time/ not ever.

NEVER should be placed before "to be", and before any other verb, but between the verb and the auxiliary, if there is one.

- She'll be here in a minute: she's never late.

- She will never lend you her car... That's impossible...

- Don't worry, she never smokes...

NEVER is used to express statements or a lack of experiences, and to give advice...

- Paul never travels with a lot of cash.

- You should never skip breakfast...

2) EVER : is opposed to ALWAYS (in the affirmative) and to NEVER (in the negative) just as ANY is opposed to SOME and NO= at any time/ at all time

- Have you ever met Tom's father?

- Nobody ever comes to see me... (NO DOUBLE NEGATIVE)

* EVER is used in the interrogative form and in the negative form when the negative is already expressed by another word.

- Have you ever been to India? No, I haven't. To tell the truth nobody has ever been there in my family...

* With a superlative:

- It's the most interesting documentary I've ever seen on the subject.

* Following the expression "It's the first time"...

- It's the first time I have ever tried to smoke a cigar, and it will be the last one!

* To intensify a command:

- Don't ever try to lie to me!

* To emphasise an adjective:

- The cake you've made is ever so delicious... Thank you again!

* EVER has the affirmative meaning of ALWAYS in varied expressions : for ever/ forever= continually, eternally; ever since= since a specific point in time; "yours ever"= an old-fashioned sing-off.

- I will love you always and forever...

* "Never ever": an emphatic expression of "never".

- I'll never ever forget what you've done to help us....

3. NEVER, NOWHERE, NOT ONLY, NO SOONER, NOR: when used at the beginning of a clause, in formal speech, must be followed by a subject-verb inversion.

- Never had I witnessed such an outrageous situation...

- No sooner had she gone to bed than she fell asleep... She was so tired...

- Not only did he refuse to fill in the form, but he also tore it into pieces...

4. A FEW EXPRESSIONS:

- Never say never!= I'll NEVER do that!

- Never say die! = Never give up...

- Never have I ever... ("the game" see above)

- Never mind! = Don't bother!

Not so difficult, is it? Go for it... and THE FORCE will be with you!

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1. 'Oh dear, how ugly! It’s really the most terrible picture .'

2. Nobody whether his theory is right or wrong.

3. I’ll find someone like you... even perhaps someone better!

4. 'It’s the first time vodka and sorry, but I really hate it.'

5. ' that you might become as ruthless as your father?' 'No, .'

6. ' than he was sorry he had been too quick to give his answer.'

7. 'This exercise is that I’m sure I’ll do it in a jiffy!'

8. ' skipped lessons without my parents ' knowledge.' 'You must be kidding, Jim! '

9. ' will you be allowed to enter this building now! You’re out!'

10. 'You seem to be very good at tennis. a tournament?' 'No, not yet!'

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