如何使用“永远”这个词

How to Use the Word 'Ever'

Have you ever noticed the number of times that a native English speaker uses the word “ever”? Ever is an adverb that we Americans say a lot.

Here’s today’s question, from Zanoni in Venezuela:

Question:

Hello. I would like to get some tips about the right usage² of the adverb "ever." Thanks in advance. - Zanoni, Venezuela

Answer:

Hello, Zanoni!

There are many ways to use the word “ever,” but some of them are very formal, less modern, or more common in British English. So it might help more if I tell you how Americans most often use the word.

There are a few ways we use it.

At any time

The first way means³ “at any time.” For this meaning, we often use it in question form:

Have you ever visited Zanzibar?

Do you ever wonder how you will look in 10 years?

What is the best film you have ever seen?

Note that the third example uses the superlative adjective⁴ “best.”

We can also use “ever” in statements⁶, such as when you are describing something with a superlative or comparative⁷ adjective.

The Ring is the best horror⁸ film I’ve ever seen.

The cost of living is higher than it has ever been.

Negatives

In negative statements, we can use the term “not ever” to mean “not at any time.” But “never” is much more common. Listen to the following sentences that have the same meaning:

He doesn’t ever let his mother finish speaking.

He never lets his mother finish speaking.

But with negative words, like “nobody,” “no one,” “rarely⁹” and “hardly,” we use “ever” instead of “never.” Let’s listen:

No one here ever cleans up after themselves.

I rarely ever carry money with me.

Ever since

Americans also use “ever” in the expression “ever since.” It means “continually or often from a past time until now,” which is similar to the meaning of “since.” But using “ever” adds strength to the statement⁵.

Listen:

Ever since I started stretching, my back has felt much better.

You can also say it like this, with the same meaning:

My back has felt much better ever since I started stretching.

And that’s Ask a Teacher.

I’m Alice Bryant.

Words in This Story

adverb – n. a word that describes a verb¹, an adjective, another adverb, or a sentence and that is often used to show time, manner, place, or degree

tip – n. a piece of advice or useful information

formal – adj. suitable¹⁰ for serious or official speech and writing

superlative – adj. of or relating to the form of an adjective or adverb that is used to indicate the greatest degree of a particular quality

negative – adj. expressing denial or refusal

1 verb   

n.[语]动词

参考例句：

• The sentence is formed from a verb and two nouns.这句子由一个动词和两个名词构成。
• These are the finite forms of a verb.这些是一个动词的限定形式。

2 usage   

n.惯用法，使用，用法

参考例句：

• I am clear about the usage of this word at last.这个词的用法我算是弄明白了。
• The usage is now firmly established.这种用法现已得到确认。

3 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

4 adjective   

n.形容词；adj.形容词的，用作形容词的

参考例句：

• Don't apply that adjective to me.不要用那个字眼来形容我。
• The adjective loose has several senses. 形容词loose有几个义项。

5 statement   

n.陈述；声明；综述

参考例句：

• The government will put out a new statement tomorrow.政府将于明天发布一项新声明。
• Put down your statement in black and white.把你的话用白纸黑字写下来。

6 statements   

n.声明( statement的名词复数 )；（思想、观点、文章主题等的）表现；（文字）陈述；结算单

参考例句：

• We are faced with two apparently contradictory statements. 我们面前这两种说法显然是矛盾的。
• The report is inconsistent with the financial statements. 这个报告与财务报表内容不一致。

7 comparative   

adj.比较的；相比较而言的；相对的

参考例句：

• After many hardships,he now lives in comparative ease.经过许多困难之后，他现在的生活相对舒适。
• Let's make a comparative study of the two languages.让我们将这两种语言作一下比较研究。

8 horror   

n.惊骇，恐怖，惨事，极端厌恶

参考例句：

• The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation.公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。
• The thought of working nights fills me with abject horror.一想到要夜间工作我就觉得惨兮兮的。

9 rarely   

adv.很少，难得；非常地，非凡地

参考例句：

• Such fish is rarely met with in the north country.这种鱼在北方难得看到。
• He rarely comes here anymore.现在他难得来这儿了。

10 suitable   

adj.合适的，适当的，适宜的

参考例句：

• Tomorrow will be quite suitable.明天挺合适。
• Is she suitable for the job?她适于做这工作吗？