PRESENT PERFECT + EVER, NEVER EVER

PRESENT PERFECT + EVER, NEVER EVER

The adverbs "ever" and "never" refer to an unidentified time, prior to the present (Have you ever visited Berlin?). "Ever" and "never" are always placed before the main verb (in "past participle"). "Ever" is used:

IN QUESTIONS

EXAMPLES

Have you ever been to England?

Has she ever met the Prime Minister?

IN NEGATIVE QUESTIONS

EXAMPLES

Have not they ever been to Europe?

Have not you ever eaten Chinese food?

IN NEGATIVE PRAYERS WITH "NOTHING + EVER" OR "NOBODY + EVER"

EXAMPLES

Nobody has ever said that to me before.

Nothing like this has ever happened to us.

WITH "THE FIRST TIME"

EXAMPLES

It's the first time that I've ever eaten snails.

This is the first time I've ever been to England.

NEVER

"Never" means never before now and is equivalent to "not (...) ever": (I have never visited Berlin)

CAUTION "Never" and "not" should not be used together.

I have not never been to Italy.

I have never been to Italy.