The adverb ever is used often in present perfect questions and negatives.
For example
Have you ever eaten kimchi?
I haven’t ever eaten kimchi.
You can see it in a few other sentence forms, as well. In these sentences, it means “at any time.”
If I ever won the lottery, I would buy a new house.
You look as beautiful as ever. (You look as beautiful as you did a long time ago.)
He wanted to be the best soccer player ever.
She only ever calls me when she has a problem.
The most common error is:
- Using it in affirmative present perfect
I have ever been to Chicago.
The students have ever seen that movie.
Instead, use time phrases like before, always, just, or already.
I have been to Chicago before.
The students have already seen that movie.
I’ve always wanted to learn French.
Don’t forget! Present perfect uses ‘ever’ with questions and negatives.
