如何使用“永远”这个词
时间：2019-02-14 作者：英语课 分类：2019年VOA慢速英语(一)月
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 usage 2 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 means 3 “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 adjective 4 “best.”
We can also use “ever” in statements 6, such as when you are describing something with a superlative or comparative 7 adjective.
The Ring is the best horror 8 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,” “rarely 9” 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 statement 5.
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 verb 1, 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. suitable 10 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
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。
- 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。