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even

Meaning​

Even suggests the idea of a surprising extreme: ‘more than we expect’; not even suggests ‘less than we expect’.

  • She’s rude to everybody. She’s even rude to the police.
  • He can’t even write his own name.

Position​

Even most often goes with the verb, in mid-position (see here).

  • She has broken all her toys. She has even broken her bike. (not Even she has broken …)
  • He speaks lots of languages. He even speaks Esperanto.
  • They’re open every day. They’re even open on Christmas Day.

Even goes at the beginning of a clause when it refers just to the subject; and it can go just before other words and expressions that we want to emphasise.

  • Anybody can do this. Even a child can do it.
  • I work every day, even on Sundays.
  • I haven’t seen my family for months – not even my parents.

even and also​

Also (see here) is not used to talk about surprising extremes.

  • Everybody helped with the packing – even the dog. (not … also the dog.)

even if and even though​

Even is not used alone as a conjunction, but we can use even before if and though.

  • Even if I become a millionaire, I will always be a socialist. (not … Even I become …)
  • Even though I didn’t know anybody at the party, I had a nice time. (not Even although …)
  • I wouldn’t marry you even if you were the last man in the world.

We sometimes use if to mean even if.

  • I’ll do it if it kills me. (= … even if it kills me.)

even so; even now​

Even so means ‘however’, ‘in spite of that’.

  • He seems nice. Even so, I don’t really trust him. (not … Even though, I don’t really trust him.)

Even now can mean ‘in spite of everything that has happened’.

  • He left her ten years ago, but even now she still loves him.