Ever
/ˈɛvər/
adverbA2
Definition
"Ever" means at any time or always. It is used to ask if something has happened at any time before now, to emphasize something happening continuously or repeatedly, or to show that something is true at all times.
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See It in Action
At any time (in questions or negatives)
- •Have you ever visited Paris?
- •I don't ever want to be late again.
- •Did he ever call you back?
Always or at all times (emphasizing something)
- •She is ever so kind to everyone.
- •This is the best movie ever!
- •He is ever ready to help his friends.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "ever" like "anytime," but shorter and used in many sentences to talk about time
- ✓Picture a clock that never stops, showing all possible times when something can happen
- ✓It's the feeling when you wonder if something has happened before or will happen again
- ✓Sounds like "EVER" → imagine a river that flows forever, always moving and never stopping
- ✓Remember questions like "Have you ever been to the beach?" where "ever" asks about any moment in your life
- ✓NOT like "always" (which means every time without stopping), "ever" can mean any time, sometimes, or even once
- ✓NOT like "never" (which means not at any time), "ever" often appears in questions or with negatives to ask or talk about time possibilities
Try Other Words
- •Anytime: at any moment (Use when you want to say "at any time" in a clear, simple way)
- •Always: all the time (Use when you want to show something happens continuously or every time)
- •At all: in any way or to any degree (Use in negative sentences to emphasize the meaning)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: No prefix or suffix—simple base word
- •Etymology: From Old English "æfre," meaning "always" or "at any time"
- •Historical development: Used in English for many centuries to talk about time and frequency
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in questions, negatives, and to emphasize something happening at any time or always
Reflect & Connect
•How does the word "ever" change the meaning of a question compared to leaving it out?
•Can "ever" be used to show both a single moment and a continuous state? How?
Fill in the blanks
1.Have you ___ been to another country before ___?
2.She is ___ so helpful whenever someone asks for help.
3.I don't think he will ___ forget the day we met.
4.Did you ___ see a shooting star during the night?
5.This is the best cake I have ___ tasted in my life.
6.If you ___ want to join us, just let me know.
7.They haven't ___ called back, so I am starting to worry.