The English language has a lot of words that are often used interchangeably and are considered to have similar meanings. People often get confused with such similar words and it becomes difficult for them to use the words in the correct context. Two such common words are always and forever. Both the words seem similar but have distinct differences.
Always vs Forever
The main difference between always and forever is that always refers to an action that will last all times while forever refers to an action that is currently taking place. The word always has been in the English language since ancient times while the word forever is a new edition to the English language. Both the words can be used in similar contexts.
Always is used as an adverb in sentence formation. The word is often used to imply that the action that is being described is bound to last at all times. The period referred to by the word always is within one’s life period. Always usually means continuously and denotes repetitiveness.
On the other hand, forever acts as an adverb as well as an adjective in the English language. Forever is a synonym of the word always. The word denotes something for eternity. Forever implies that the context referred to is never-ending. Forever is not used to denote any habit or behavior. Hence, the word does not promote repetitiveness
Comparison Table Between Always and Forever
| Parameters of Comparison | Always | Forever |
| Definition | Always primarily conveys “at all times” | Forever primarily conveys “for an endless time” |
| Form | Adverb | Adverb and Adjective |
| Duration | Always can refer to both short as well as the long period of time | Forever refers to a long period of time |
| Time period | The time period referred to by the word always is within one’s life period | The time period referred by the word forever is to an endless time |
| Other meaning | Always also means ‘at any rate’ or ‘as a last resort’ | Forever does not mean ‘at any rate’ or ‘as a last resort’ |
What is Always?
Always is used an adverb in the English language. The word is often used to imply that the action that is being described is bound to last at all times. The usage of the word as an adverb is paramount to the understanding of the word. The word also has other meanings like “at all times”, “on all occasions”, “for all future times”, “at any rate” or “as the last report”.
Some exemplar sentences are – “She always wears black”, “He always gives alms to the poor”, “The moon always revolves around the earth”, “I will always help you”, “You should always give another try” and several other such examples.
The word is extensively used in making promises. People often use always to confess and promise love. Like ‘I will always love you’, declares the love seemingly for an infinite period of time. The time period referred to by the word always is within one’s life period. Always usually means continuously and denotes repetitiveness.
“The teacher always takes his time in everything that he does”. This sentence shows a pattern of behavior that is done on a daily basis. Such patterns can be expressed in other ways too like “He always woke up at 4 AM”, “She always goes for a walk in the evening “, “He always sits on the first bench”.
What is Forever?
Forever is used as an adverb to describe the action taking place. The word forever is a relatively new word to the English language. The word denotes something for eternity. Forever implies that the processor context referred to is never-ending. The meaning of the word is strongly governed by the context in which the word is used.
Exemplary sentence of a promise, ‘I will love you forever’ which simply means declaration of the undying love of the lover and also promises that the love will be never-ending. The love and affection will always be there for the other person and shows devotion.
The word forever means for a very long time or for an endless time. The word is also used as an adjective in informal way. Example – “These kittens need a forever home”. The time period implied in the word forever is for an infinite period and promotes a sense of constant throughout the entire period.
Example of sentences – “She is forever asking questions”, “My dog forever does silly things”, “She didn’t tell us that she was leaving forever”, “Calls during the lecture have distracted me forever”, “The doctor took time to arrive and it seemed as if we were waiting for forever”.
Main Differences Between Always and Forever
- Always denotes continuously while forever denotes an infinite amount of time into the future.
- Always denotes repetitiveness while forever denotes no repetitiveness but a lasting constant.
- Always can refer to a short as well as a long period of time while forever can refer to a long period of time.
- The time period referred in always is within one’s life period while the time period referred in forever is endless.
- Always is used only as an adverb while forever is used as an adjective as well as an adverb in the English language.
Conclusion
Always and forever are often used as interchangeable words. The words convey a meaning which is very close to each other. The close relatedness of the words makes it extremely difficult to chalk out any difference between both the words. Most people usually interpret and comprehend both, “always” and “forever” to have the same meaning, and in some exemplar situations, the meanings are the same also.
The meaning of both the words overlaps each other. There is no actual difference between the two words. Both words are used as adverbs in the English Language which describes actions that are taking place. People often use both words to express similar feeling and use it in the same context.
The meaning not just lies in the words, but in the context in which both the words are used, which promotes their distinct meaning. The word forever is considered as the synonym of the word always. There is not much of a tangible difference between the two words.
Reference
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=lang_en&id=-546pqD8nEwC&oi=fnd&pg=PT1&dq=always+and+forever&ots=fG-gD7RQ0p&sig=B1cquIhBddR7iarutPv9nHwgn1k
- https://www.morganclaypool.com/doi/abs/10.2200/S00411ED1V01Y201203ICR021