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ever

ever meaning ‘at any time’​

Ever is a ‘non-affirmative word’ (see here). It is used especially in questions to mean ‘at any time’. Compare:

  • Do you ever go to London by train? (= at any time)
  • I always go to London by train. (= every time)
  • I sometimes go to Birmingham by train.
  • I never go to Cambridge by train. (= at no time)

Ever is possible in negative clauses, but never is more usual than not ever.

  • I don’t ever want to see you again. (or I never want …)

We also use ever after if, and with words that express a negative idea (like nobody, hardly or stop).

  • Come and see us if you are ever in Manchester.
  • Nobody ever visits them.
  • I hardly ever see my sister.
  • I’m going to stop her ever doing that again.

With comparatives, superlatives, as and only​

Ever is used in affirmative clauses in comparisons and with only.

  • You’re looking lovelier than ever.
  • What is the best book you’ve ever read?
  • It’s the largest picture ever painted.
  • He’s as charming as ever.
  • She’s the only woman ever to have climbed this mountain in winter.

ever + perfect​

Ever is often used with perfect tenses ( (see here), (see here) to mean ‘at any time up to now/then’.

  • Have you ever been to Greece?
  • Had you ever thought of getting married before you met Georgia?

ever and before; ever before​

Ever and before can both be used to mean ‘at any time in the past’, but there is a difference. Before (or ever before) refers to a present event, and asks whether it has happened at another time.

  • Have you (ever) been to Scotland before? (The hearer is probably in Scotland.)

Ever (without before) does not refer to a present event.

  • Have you ever been to Africa? (The hearer is not in Africa.)

ever meaning ‘always’​

Ever is not normally used to mean ‘always’.

  • I shall always remember you. (not I shall ever remember you.)

But ever is sometimes used to mean ‘always’ in compound expressions with adjectives and participles.

  • his ever-open mouth
  • evergreen trees
  • an ever-increasing debt
  • his ever-loving wife

Ever also means ‘always’ in forever (or for ever) and ever since, and in a few other expressions like ever after and Yours ever (used at the end of letters).

  • I shall love you forever.
  • I’ve admired him ever since I met him.
note

For who ever, what ever, etc, (see here).

For whoever, whatever, etc, (see here).

For forever with progressive forms, (see here).