ever

IPA/ˈevə(r)/
KK[ˈɛvɚ]IPA/ˈevər/

ever — 副詞

1. at any time in the past, present, or future — used especially in questions, nega

1.副詞A1
釋義

曾經

用於否定句或疑問句,表示在任何時候

at any time in the past, present, or future — used especially in questions, negative statements, and conditional sentences where the time is not fixed.

例句

Have you ever visited the night market in Taipei?

你去過台北的夜市嗎?

ever in questions with present perfect

Yasmin said she has not ever flown on an aeroplane.

Yasmin 說她從來沒有搭過飛機。

ever in negative statements

常見搭配
  • ever + present perfect
  • hardly ever
  • never ever
  • if ever
  • before ever
同義詞
  • at any time

    more formal and less common in everyday speech

  • at all

    used after negatives, e.g. 'I do not have any money at all' — stronger emphasis

反義詞
  • never

    at no time — the direct opposite in negative contexts

文法句型

ever used in questions with present perfect

ever used with a negative

ever used in if-clauses

用法筆記

In everyday affirmative statements about a single past event, use 'once' or no adverb at all — 'I have been to London' not 'I have ever been to London'.

常見錯誤

I have ever been to Canada.
I have been to Canada.
'ever' is not used in affirmative statements about a single event; use 'once' or no adverb.

2. used after a comparative adjective or adverb to mean 'more than at any previous

2.副詞A2
釋義

前所未有

用於比較級後,表示比以往更…

used after a comparative adjective or adverb to mean 'more than at any previous time' — making the comparison stronger.

例句

The summer heat this year is worse than ever before.

今年夏天的炎熱比以往更嚴重。

worse than ever — comparative + than ever

Camille felt happier than ever after finishing her final exams.

Camille 考完期末考後,感到前所未有的快樂。

常見搭配
  • than ever before
  • more than ever
  • better than ever
  • worse than ever
同義詞

文法句型

comparative + than ever

用法筆記

Often followed by 'before' ('better than ever before') for extra emphasis, though 'before' is optional.

3. used in the pattern 'as + adjective/adverb + as ever' to say that someone or som

3.副詞B1
釋義

和以前一樣

用於as...as結構,表示與過去相同

used in the pattern 'as + adjective/adverb + as ever' to say that someone or something is just as much as they have always been — nothing has changed.

例句

The old market is as lively as ever on Saturday mornings.

週六早上,這個老市集和以往一樣熱鬧。

as + adjective + as ever — unchanged quality

Hao is as kind as ever and offered to carry my bags.

Hao 和以往一樣親切,主動幫我提行李。

常見搭配
  • as good as ever
  • as bad as ever
  • as strong as ever
  • as popular as ever
同義詞
  • as always

    a less formal equivalent, more common in everyday speech

  • still

    simpler but does not carry the 'compared to any time before' nuance

文法句型

as + adjective + as ever

as + adverb + as ever

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2 (THAN EVER): this sense uses 'as + adjective + as ever' for equality, not 'comparative + than ever' for increase.

常見錯誤

The weather is hotter as ever.
The weather is as hot as ever.
use the 'as...as' pattern, not 'comparative + as'.

4. at all times; continuously or repeatedly over a long period, often used in fixed

4.副詞B1
釋義

總是

持續不停地;一直

at all times; continuously or repeatedly over a long period, often used in fixed phrases like 'for ever' and 'happily ever after'.

例句

The children's story ends with the line 'happily ever after'.

這個童話故事的結尾是「從此過著幸福快樂的日子」。

for ever / ever after — fixed phrase in stories

Romi's ever-present smile made her popular with everyone at work.

Romi 臉上總是掛著微笑,讓她很受同事歡迎。

ever + adjective — ever-present

常見搭配
  • for ever
  • ever after
  • ever-present
  • ever-changing
  • ever-increasing
同義詞
  • always

    the standard word for 'at all times'; 'ever' in this sense is mostly limited to set phrases

  • constantly

    more formal, emphasising uninterrupted action

反義詞
  • never

    at no time — the opposite of 'always'

文法句型

ever + present participle (ever-growing)

ever + adjective (ever-present)

for ever

用法筆記

When used alone (not in a fixed phrase), 'always' is far more common in everyday English than 'ever' for the meaning 'at all times'.

5. continuously from a particular point in the past until now — used as part of the

5.副詞B1
釋義

從此

從過去某時到現在一直

continuously from a particular point in the past until now — used as part of the phrase 'ever since' to connect a past event to the present.

例句

Mayumi moved to Vancouver in 2019 and has lived there ever since.

Mayumi 在 2019 年搬到溫哥華,從此就一直住在那裡。

ever since — from a past time until now

Ever since Obi started cycling to work, he has felt much healthier.

自從 Obi 開始騎腳踏車上班,他覺得自己健康多了。

ever since + clause at start of sentence

常見搭配
  • ever since + [date/event]
  • ever since + clause
  • has/have ... ever since
同義詞

文法句型

ever since + point in time

ever since + clause

present perfect + ever since

用法筆記

The phrase 'ever since' can be followed by a noun phrase ('ever since 2018') or a clause ('ever since she moved'). The same meaning can be expressed by 'since then' at the end of a sentence.

常見錯誤

I moved here since two years.
I moved here two years ago and have lived here ever since.
'since' needs a point in time; 'ever since' emphasises continuity to now.

6. used in the fixed expression 'as ever' to say that a person's behaviour or a sit

6.副詞B1
釋義

一如既往

和往常一樣不變

used in the fixed expression 'as ever' to say that a person's behaviour or a situation is the same as it always is — nothing has changed from its usual pattern.

例句

As ever, Allison had prepared far too much food for everyone.

Allison 和往常一樣,準備了超多食物給大家吃。

as ever — introductory phrase before clause

Rafael forgot his wallet, as ever, so I paid for the meal.

Rafael 一如既往忘了帶錢包,所以由我付了餐費。

as ever — parenthetical comment mid-sentence

常見搭配
  • as ever
同義詞
  • as always

    interchangeable with 'as ever' in everyday speech

  • as usual

    more common in everyday conversation than 'as ever'

文法句型

as ever — at start or end of clause

7. a friendly word placed just before your signature when writing a personal messag

7.副詞B2
釋義

信尾問候

信件結尾的友好問候語

a friendly word placed just before your signature when writing a personal message to a close friend or relative, showing warmth in the farewell.

例句

Dear Kevin, thanks for the invite. See you soon. Yours ever, Iris.

親愛的 Kevin,謝謝你的邀請,到時候見。你的朋友 Iris 敬上。

letter format: 'Yours ever' before signature

Lan wrote 'Yours ever' at the bottom of her card to her grandmother.

Lan 在她寄給祖母的卡片末尾寫上「Yours ever」的信尾問候語。

常見搭配
  • Yours ever
  • Ever yours

文法句型

Yours ever + [signature]

Ever yours + [signature]

用法筆記

This sense only appears in the fixed phrases 'Yours ever' or 'Ever yours' at the end of informal letters or emails.

8. used before an adjective to stress that a quality is constant, continuous, or ha

8.副詞B2
釋義

始終;向來

修飾形容詞,表示持續或經常

used before an adjective to stress that a quality is constant, continuous, or happens all the time — for example, an ever-present worry or an ever-growing pile of work.

例句

The ever-increasing cost of rent made Dario look for a smaller flat.

租金不斷上漲,讓 Dario 開始尋找更小的公寓。

ever + present participle adjective

Ayana's grandmother was an ever-present source of comfort and good advice.

Ayana 的奶奶始終是她安慰與建議的來源。

常見搭配
  • ever-present
  • ever-increasing
  • ever-growing
  • ever-changing
  • ever-changing
同義詞
  • always

    more general; 'ever-' is more emphatic and poetic

  • constantly

    works as an adverb, not as a prefix on adjectives

反義詞
  • never

    opposite in meaning but not used in the same syntactic pattern

文法句型

ever + [adjective] + [noun]

ever-[adjective]

用法筆記

In writing, the ever-adjective combination is often hyphenated (ever-present, ever-changing). Unlike sense 10 ('ever so'), this sense stresses that something is always true or happening.

常見錯誤

She is ever so kind person' (when meaning 'always kind').
She is an ever-kind person.
'ever so' means 'very'; 'ever-' before an adjective means 'always.'

9. used after question words such as how, why, when, where, or what to express surp

9.副詞B2
釋義

究竟;到底

用在疑問詞後,表達驚訝或不滿

used after question words such as how, why, when, where, or what to express surprise, shock, disbelief, or strong confusion.

例句

Why ever did you decide to leave your job without another offer?

你究竟為什麼在沒找到下一份工作前就辭職了?

why ever + inverted subject-verb for surprise

How ever did Tamar manage to finish the whole report in one night?

Tamar 到底怎麼在一個晚上就把整份報告寫完的?

常見搭配
  • why ever
  • how ever
  • when ever
  • where ever
  • what ever
同義詞
  • how come

    even less formal and does not use inversion

文法句型

[question word] ever + [inverted clause]

用法筆記

Unlike 'whatever,' 'whenever,' 'wherever' (which are pronouns or conjunctions meaning 'no matter what/when/where'), this sense keeps 'ever' as a separate word after the question word and always uses subject-verb inversion.

常見錯誤

Why ever you did that?
Why ever did you do that?
subject-verb inversion is required after question words.

10. used before 'so' or 'such' to strongly intensify an adjective or noun phrase — m

10.副詞B2
釋義

非常;極其

口語中加強程度的副詞,相當於「非常」

used before 'so' or 'such' to strongly intensify an adjective or noun phrase — meaning 'very' or 'really' in an expressive, colloquial way.

例句

The children looked ever so cute in their school uniforms.

那些孩子穿上學校制服看起來非常可愛。

ever so + adjective

Élise was ever such a helpful person around the office.

Élise 在公司裡是一個非常樂於助人的人。

ever such a + adjective + noun

常見搭配
  • ever so
  • ever such
  • ever so much
同義詞
  • very

    neutral register; 'ever so' is more informal and expressive

  • really

    similar intensity, but 'ever so' has a warmer, slightly old-fashioned tone

文法句型

ever so + [adjective/adverb]

ever such + [noun phrase]

用法筆記

Primarily used in British English informal speech. Avoid in formal writing. The pattern 'ever so' is more common than 'ever such.' Not to be confused with sense 8 ('WITH ADJECTIVES'), where 'ever-' means 'always.'

常見錯誤

She is ever so nice person' (no article).
She is ever such a nice person.
'ever so' takes an adjective or adverb; 'ever such' takes a noun phrase with an article.
慣用語

a fixed phrase used at the end of children's stories to mean that the characters lived in happiness from that point onward without any problems.

The prince married the princess and they lived happily ever after.

Not every real-life couple ends up happily ever after, but it is a nice idea.

for an extremely long time without ending — used for emphasis, especially in promises, songs, and religious contexts.

The children sang about loving their planet for ever and ever.

Grandpa promised to remember his army friends for ever and ever.

This phrase emphasizes that someone repeatedly does the same action, often in an annoying way.

某人老是只會做…

All my brother ever does is play video games all day.

All Sara ever does is complain about her job.

This phrase shows that you are very surprised or shocked by something.

你見過這麼…的嗎!

Did you ever see such a beautiful sunset!

Did you ever hear such a ridiculous story!

This phrase means continuously from a specific time in the past until now.

自從…以來一直

Maya has been afraid of dogs ever since she was bitten.

Diego moved to New York in 2010 and has lived there ever since.

This phrase means very or really, and is used to emphasize an adjective or noun.

非常;真是

The cake was ever so delicious, I had two slices.

Brian is ever such a kind person; he helps everyone.

This phrase emphasizes that something is certainly true or a perfect example.

如果有的話,那肯定是

That exam was a nightmare if ever there was one.

This is a masterpiece if ever there was one.

This phrase strongly emphasizes the truth of a statement about someone.

某人當然是!

‘You must have been tired.’ ‘Was I ever!’

‘She seems happy.’ ‘Is she ever!’

This phrase is used at the end of an informal letter before signing your name.

你永遠的(信末用語)

I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours ever, Min.

Thanks for your help. Ever yours, Aiden.

同根字

常見搭配

常用片語