Never says that something happens on no occasions in the situation discussed.

The idea

Put never before an ordinary main verb: she never takes. With be as the main verb, put it after be: we are never late. With an auxiliary, it commonly follows it: has never visited.

Examples

  • I never skip breakfast.
  • She never takes the late train.
  • We are never late for class.
  • He has never visited this city.
  • Never leave the door open.
  • I do not always walk to work.

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Watch out

To say an event happens on no occasions, standard English normally uses never without another negative. Not always means sometimes not, rather than never.

Try it yourself

  1. She takes that train on no occasions. She ___ takes the late train. (never / always)

    Show answer or example answer

    never

    never comes before the main verb takes.

  2. We are late on no occasions. We are ___ late for class. (never / always)

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    never

    never follows the form of be, here are.

  3. He has visited the city on no occasion. He has ___ visited this city. (never / always)

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    never

    never follows the auxiliary has before the participle.

Use it today

Describe something you never do and something you do not always do.