transcription, транскрипция: [ evə(r) ]
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: 'Ever' is an adverb which you use to add emphasis in negative sentences, commands, questions, and conditional structures.
1.
Ever means at any time. It is used in questions and negative statements.
I’m not sure I’ll ever trust people again...
Neither of us had ever skied...
Have you ever experienced failure?...
I don’t know if you ever read any of his books...
≠ never
ADV : ADV before v , ADV adv
2.
You use ever in expressions such as ‘ did you ever ’ and ‘ have you ever ’ to express surprise or shock at something you have just seen, heard, or experienced, especially when you expect people to agree with you.
Have you ever seen anything like it?...
Did you ever hear anyone sound so peculiar?
ADV : in questions, ADV before v [ emphasis ]
3.
You use ever after comparatives and superlatives to emphasize the degree to which something is true or when you are comparing a present situation with the past or the future.
She’s got a great voice and is singing better than ever...
Japan is wealthier and more powerful than ever before...
He feels better than he has ever felt before...
This is the most awful evening I can ever remember.
ADV : ADV after compar than , ADV after adj-superl [ emphasis ]
4.
You use ever to say that something happens more all the time.
They grew ever further apart...
ADV : ADV adj / adv
5.
You can use ever for emphasis after ‘never’. ( INFORMAL )
I can never, ever, forgive myself...
ADV : ADV before v [ emphasis ]
6.
You use ever in questions beginning with words such as ‘why’, ‘when’, and ‘who’ when you want to emphasize your surprise or shock.
Why ever didn’t you tell me?...
Who ever heard of a thing like that?
ADV : quest ADV [ emphasis ]
7.
If something has been the case ever since a particular time, it has been the case all the time from then until now.
He’s been there ever since you left!...
Ever since we moved last year, I worry a lot about whether I can handle this new job...
PHRASE
•
Ever is also an adverb.
I simply gave in to him, and I’ve regretted it ever since...
ADV : ADV after v , ADV with cl
8.
You use ever in the expressions ever such and ever so to emphasize that someone or something has a particular quality, especially when you are expressing enthusiasm or gratitude. ( BRIT INFORMAL )
When I met Derek he was ever such a good dancer...
I like him ever so much...
I’m ever so grateful...
ADV : ADV such/so [ emphasis ]
9.
see also forever
10.
You use the expression all someone ever does when you want to emphasize that they do the same thing all the time, and this annoys you.
All she ever does is whinge and complain...
PHRASE : V inflects [ emphasis ]
11.
You say as ever in order to indicate that something or someone’s behaviour is not unusual because it is like that all the time or very often.
As ever, the meals are primarily fish-based...
PHRASE : PHR with cl
12.
hardly ever: see hardly