TENSES
PRESENT
PERFECT + ever, never, already, yet
The adverbs ever
and never express the idea of an unidentified time before
now e.g. Have you ever visited Berlin?
'Ever' is
used
a. in questions.
e.g.
Have you ever
been to England?
Has she ever
met the Prime Minister?
b. in
negative questions e.g.
Haven't
they ever
been to Europe?
Haven't you ever
eaten Chinese food?
c. and in
negative statements using the pattern nothing.......ever,
nobody.......ever e.g.
Nobody
has ever
said that to me before.
Nothing
like this has ever
happened to us.
d. 'Ever'
is also used with 'The first time.... e.g.
It's the first time (that) I've ever
eaten snails.
This is the first time I've ever been to England.
'Never'
means at no time before now, and is the same as not .....
ever:
I have never visited Berlin
BE
CAREFUL!
You
must not use never and not together:
I
haven't never been to Italy.
I have never been to Italy.
Position:
'Ever'
and 'never' are always placed before the main verb
(past participle).
Already
and yet:
Already refers
to an action that has happened at an unspecified time before now. It
suggests that there is no need for repetition, e.g.
a. I've already
drunk three coffees this morning. (and you're
offering me another one!)
b. Don't write to John, I've already
done it.
It is also
used in questions:
a. Have you already
written to John?
b. Has she finished her homework already?
Position:
already can be placed before the main verb (past participle)
or at the end of the sentence:
a. I have already
been to Tokyo.
b. I have been to Tokyo already.
yet
is used in negative statements and questions,
to mean (not) in the period of time between before now and now, (not)
up to and including the present. e.g.
a. Have you met Judy yet?
b. I haven't visited the Tate Gallery yet.
c. Has he arrived yet?
d. They haven't eaten yet.
Position:
Yet is usually placed at the end of the sentence.