Use of EVER

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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > Use of EVER

Use of EVER

asungilsanz

Use of EVER

Hi there!

Could you please help with the word EVER?

We all know that it means "at any time" in sentences like: "Have you ever dreamed of being rich and famous?" But what about affirmative sentences?

"Everyone has ever dreamed of being rich and famous". Is EVER correct in this sentence or do you have to use other expressions like "some time"?

"Everyone has dreamed of being rich and famous some time"

Is there a better way to express this?

Thanks in advance

12 Nov 2014

redcamarocruiser

"Everyone has ever dreamed of being rich and famous" is incorrect.

We can say:

"Everyone has dreamed of being rich and famous at some time in his life." This means that he dreamed it at some point in time in the past. (emphasis on the action in the past).

"Everyone has dreamed of being rich and famous sometime." This means that he dreamed about being famous at an indefinite time in the future. (emphasis on the future).

"Everyone has dreamed of being rich and famous some day." This is equivalent to using sometime above, (emphasis on the future). It is the more common way of expressing it in my opinion.

"Everyone has. at some time, dreamed of being rich and famous some day." This expresses both emphases, past and future.

"Everyone has. at some point, dreamed of being rich and famous some day." This is what I would probably say, I think.

12 Nov 2014

asungilsanz

Thanks so much for enlightening me, redcamarocruiser (Mary). I really appreciate it!

Have a nice day!

12 Nov 2014