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Topic: Never and Ever |
15 August 2002 |
Never and ever are not mistaken for each other but most Thai students think that ever is the opposite of never,
which is wrong. Let's see how the two words are used.
Never means not even once. It is used to describe something that has zero percent of chance to happen.
For example:
I have never smoked in my life.
John has never been to college.
He has never been satisfied with his look.
You can use never in an imperative sentence. Sometimes the imperative is stressed with ever.
For example:
Never talk to strangers.
Never leave the door open.
Never ever touch the switch when your hands are wet.
Never ever talk to me in that tone of voice.
Ever means once in a lifetime. It's not the opposite of the word never. We usually use the word in a question.
For example:
| Question : |
Have you ever been to Japan? |
| Answer : |
Yes, I have been there once. (not 'I have ever been there) No, I have never been there. |
| Question : |
Have you ever been to M2M's concert? |
| Answer : |
Yes, I have been to their concert (no ever). No, I have never been to their concert. |
In the sense that ever means เคย in Thai, we use used to instead.
For example:
| Question : |
Have you ever been to Japan? |
| Answer : |
I used to spend some time in Japan. |
| Question : |
Have you ever wanted to be someone else? |
| Answer : |
Yes, I used to imagine myself as someone else. No, I have never wanted to be someone else. |
Note :
Never ever use ever when you mean used to. |
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Exercise: Never and Ever. |
| Directions : Form questions with ever. |
 1. Try rabbit meat. |
| 2. witness a car accident. |
| 3. have chicken pox. |
| 4. eat on the street. |
| 5. fail an exam. |
| Now answer your question using the following prompts. |
| 6. no. |
| 7. yes |
| 8. yes. When I was seven. |
| 9. yes. |
| 10. no. |
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Answers |
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