Never is usually preceded by a noun, so its prefix meaning is not ever. However, Ever is always followed by a verb. Both Never and Ever are exceptionally similar, yet the main difference between the two words is that Never suggests a period and Ever suggests an ongoing period.
Never vs Ever
The main difference between Never and Ever is that Never is usually preceded by a noun or some other restrictive word, so it’s usually a prefix meaning not ever, whereas, Ever, on the other hand, is always followed by a verb, so it is always an adverb that refers to all the time.
Never is a hugely important part of many sentences in English. Moreover, it’s one of the most-used words in both speech and writing. The word Never can have many meanings in the English language. Some examples are, Never has been, will never do something again, or it will last forever.
The word Ever can also have various meanings, such as for all time, forever, every day, always, and at any point in time. Ever is not one of those words that merely modifies an adjective to intensify it. However, Ever needs to be used with past perfect verb tenses such as had eaten or would have done.
Comparison Table Between Never and Ever
| Parameters of Comparison | Never | Ever |
| Definition | It’s a word that is used to make something impossible or highly unlikely to happen. | It shows how things are likely to change over time. |
| Application | It is a word mostly seen in writing and speeches. | It is used to modify many other words like every, every day, and forever. |
| Noun | It’s a noun that means the exact opposite. | It’s a noun that means something that has happened for so long. |
| Adverb | It is an adverb that refers to something in the future or not at all. | It is an adverb that refers to all the time usually when paired with not. |
| Illustration | I will never think about Paris. | How will I ever do this? |
What is Never?
The word never means to have a specific meaning in written and spoken English, where it is one of the most-used words in both speech and writing. It is a word that is used to make something impossible or highly unlikely to happen. The word Never is mostly seen in writing and speeches, where it can be used in several different ways.
Never is an adjective and adverb that refers to something in the future or not at all. Moreover, it is also an interjection. For instance, I can’t believe she just did that. Never mind, let’s eat. It is another form of the word no.
Never can be used with any simple tense such as present tense or past tense. For instance, the sentence he has never been to Paris means that the speaker has no evidence to prove that the speaker has visited Paris. It is an adjective that means a state of being or not being able to or not wanting to do something, or maybe both, such as She is always painting at night, Never during the day.
What is Ever?
The meaning of Ever is more than just time. However, Ever is an adjective meaning at all times. It is used to modify many other words in the English language like every, every day, forever, forevermore, ever after, even once and any time. It also has something to do with how things are likely to change over time. For example, if someone says they are evergreen or everlasting, it means that they will never die or change at all.
Ever is usually used in questions or negative sentences when something happens on future dates or far away places. It also means all the time in certain contexts, usually when paired with not. Ever can also refer to something always available for use, like electricity. So the everlasting tree could also be called the tree of electricity. Ever needs to be used with past perfect verb tenses such as had eaten or would have done.
Ever can also be used to describe something that has happened for so long that it seems like it will never change. There are also other ways to describe this idea, like forever or permanently. For instance, I have ever been to Paris means that the person is certain about the fact that he or she has visited Paris at some point in time, and I am ever doing this means that the listener is certain that he or she is performing this action habitually or repeated at some point in time.
Main Differences Between Never and Ever
- Never is a word that is used to make something impossible or highly unlikely to happen, whereas, Ever shows how things are likely to change over time.
- Never is a word mostly seen in writing and speeches, whereas, Ever is used to modify many other words like every, every day, and forever.
- Never is a noun that means the exact opposite, whereas, Ever is a noun that means something that has happened for so long.
- Never is an adverb that refers to something in the future or not at all, whereas, Ever is an adverb that refers to all the time, usually when paired with not.
- Never illustration include I will never think about Paris, whereas, Ever illustration include how will I ever go to do this?
Conclusion
Never and Ever don’t always make sense as subject and verb because of their lack of a predicate. Never can be used with any simple tense such as present tense or past tense. However, Ever needs to be used with past perfect verb tenses such as had eaten or would have done. Have eaten and would have done are both past perfect verb tenses for use with Ever.
Ever can also be used to describe something that has happened for so long that it seems as it will never change, the other ways to describe it can be formed forever or permanently. To make the distinction between Never and Ever in English, one has to use past perfect verb tenses.
References
- https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/cllt.2005.1.2.263/html
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395913001679
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00138383308596608