.png?table=block&id=5f8e7ed5-43d5-4ef9-8003-59bfd8c175f0&cache=v2)
Which sentence is correct?
”I don’t ever watch horror films.” or “I don’t never watch horror films”
Let’s find out!
Buy me a cup of coffee! ☕
If you found my materials useful and you’d like to support me, buy me a cup of coffee here: ko-fi.com/sipofenglish
Exercise 1
Read the quotes from films (we’ll watch them later 🙂) and complete the rules with ‘ever’ or ‘never’.
- use … with negative sentences
- use … in questions
- use … in sentences with ‘if’
- use … in positive sentences
- use … after superlatives (the hardest, the best etc.)
- use … with comparatives + than … (e.g. better than …)
- ‘… …’ is used to make ‘never’ stronger
- use … with ‘barely’, ‘hardly’, ‘scarcely’
A) “You’re the weak one, and you’ll never know love or friendship.”
B) “Don’t ever let anybody tell you they’re better than you, Forrest.”
C) "I don’t know if I’m ever gonna get out of this place.”
D) “Did I ever tell you about Lenore Clement?”
E) "That is the ugliest skirt I've ever seen.”
F) “When you’re a contract killer, you have no friends, you barely ever talk to anyone”
G) “You are now coping with this nightmare better than I've ever seen you.”
H) "We do not follow maps to buried treasure, and "X" never, ever, marks the spot.”
answer key
1 b, ever
2 d, ever
3 c, ever
4 a, never
5 e, ever
6 g, ever
7 h never, ever
8 f, ever
Theory
.png?table=block&id=bc039a56-b961-4b40-b2bd-298fd3b520bd&cache=v2)
Exercise 2
Choose the correct word in the following sentences:
- Have they … seen that film?
- I barely … go to the gym.
- We have … seen a more breathtaking sunset.
- If you … need help, don't hesitate to ask.
- Has he … played a musical instrument?
- It's the biggest pizza I have … seen!
- They've … seen the Pyramids of Egypt.
- She has … achieved such remarkable success.
- She hasn't … tried skiing.
- He has … been here.
- If you’re … in Paris, you have to see the Eiffel tower.
- We are spending more than … on education.
.png?table=block&id=cfd1c953-4864-4e7a-89a7-cfd285ed532a&cache=v2)
.png?table=block&id=5de39588-5585-452b-813f-965056d3dda9&cache=v2)
Answer key
- ever
- ever
- never
- ever
- ever
- ever
- never
- never
- ever
- ever
- ever
Exercise 3
Fill in the gaps with ‘ever’ or ‘never’ and watch the clips to check your answers.
1. “I’ve … been very good at judging the scale of the lie. I’ve … been able to do it.”
2. “You are now coping with this nightmare better than I've … seen you. Better than I've … seen me.”
3. "One of the greatest pieces of advice I’ve … gotten in my life was from my mum.”
5. "And he has a little hat and little pants. You have the sweetest smile I've … seen.”
6. "Hey, Beej, did I … tell you about Lenore Clement, voted Miss New England in 1949?”
7. “You’re the weak one, and you’ll … know love or friendship”
8.“When you’re a contract killer, you have no friends, you barely … talk to anyone”
9. Don't … let anybody tell you they're better than you, Forrest.”
9. "Oh, I’m another year older and and I don’t know if I’m … gonna get out of this f*ing place.”
10. "We do not follow maps to buried treasure, and "X" never, …, marks the spot.”
Exercise 4
Choose ‘ever’ or ‘never’ and finish the sentence based on your experience.
- The best movie I’ve ever/never watched was …
- I would ever/never eat …
- I hardly ever/never watch …
- If I ever/never win a lottery, I will …
- My friends and I barely ever/never …
- I have ever/never been to …
- The most delicious food I’ve ever/never eaten was …
- This summer is hotter than ever/never, so I …
- I’ll ever/never ever/never work as a …
- I would ever/never tell somebody …
- If I ever/never go on a trip to Rome, I will …
- I was busier than ever/never when …
- I don’t ever/never want to study …
- I ever/never know what to do when …
- I hardly ever/never go to …
Exercise 5
Extra clips! You know the drill :)
10. "I've heard stories. She’s been praying on ships and settlements for nearly 10 years. (She) …leaves any survivors.” “No survivors? Then where do the stories come from, I wonder?”
11. "Arlene? Hi. It's Joyce. How you doin? Listen, you are … gonna believe where Buffy got accepted to school.”
12. "Mr. Daley, I can honestly say, in 43 years at this agency I've … seen a resume quite like yours.”
13. "Oh my God! I love your skirt. Where did you get it? Vintage. So adorable." "Thanks" "That is the ugliest F-ing skirt I've … seen.”
14. "It's this person. Now, do you have any idea why she'd be so..." "so homocidal?" "I have no idea. I've … seen this girl before in my life.”
15. "Oh good, clever you! I'm … lucky enough to get a bargain like that.”
16. Please listen to me, Ross. You're so much better for me than Paolo … was. I mean, you care about me, you're loving, you make me laugh.
Exercise 6
Choose the correct word in the following sentences:
- We scarcely … see each other anymore.
- If it … stops raining, we can go for a walk in the park.
- That was the most challenging test I have … taken.
- He has … won a game of chess.
- It's the longest book I have … read.
- I've … travelled to Japan.
- The demand for renewable energy sources is higher than ….
- I haven't … been to Australia.
- She's promised to … … speak about this again.
- She hardly … stays up late.
- If you … need advice, I'm here to listen and offer support.
- ever
- ever
- ever
- never
- ever
- ever
- never
- ever
- never, ever
- never
- ever
- ever
Answer key
.png?table=block&id=7ec63a1e-af53-4222-8034-bc57791799df&cache=v2)
.png?table=block&id=45e318ce-b269-4d77-85ab-d3b0d04899cb&cache=v2)