Have you evervisited the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Have you visited the Leaning Tower of Pisa before?
Yes, I have (seen) it.
- experience exists
No, I haven't
seen it.
- experience doesn't exist
No, I haven't ever seen it.
- experience doesn't exist (emphasis)
No , I've never seen it.
- experience doesn't exist (more emphasis)
Time adverbs associated with these tenses.
ADVERBS FOR PAST ACTIVITIES
ADVERBS FOR EXPERIENCE
We went to Italy last year.
We have been to Italy.
last night
yesterday
last week
last year
last January
this morning (hours past)
this week (days past)
this year..
this decade.
August 1960
1992
May 5th at 5:00. (if it has already passed)
twenty years ago
during the 1990s
at that time etc.
ever
before
never
often
always
rarely
usually
(and other adverbs of frequency)
(often not stated - indefinite)
COMMON ERROR
FIXES
Have you ever visited the Leaning Tower of
Pisa? * Yes, I have
visited it in
June.
(incompatible tense
and time word)
Yes, I visited it in June. (Use
past tense.)
Yes, I have visited it. (Use no adverb - indefinite.
)
Yes, I have visited it recently. (Use "recently".
)
* He hasn't never been there. (double negative)
He hasn't everbeen there.
He hasn't been there.
Read & Compare
Pop-Question - Solution for 9/28/08
How would you fix this phrasing?
"Never we have to have a
financial bailout of banking
institutions in the U.S. before."
Word Order and Emphasis
Bringing words, such as never or often, to the front of the sentence for emphasis requires reordering the subject and verb(s).
No Emphasis Standard word order
Mild Emphasis Adverb in front of the verb
ADVERB - MEDIAL VERB PHRASE POSITION
ADVERB - INITIAL VERB PHRASE POSITION
Wehaveneverseen such a financial mess before.
Weneverhaveseen such a financial mess before.
Weneverexpect such a thing to happen. (No change possible.)
Weneverexpect such a thing to happen.
Weshouldneverallow this to happen again.
Wenevershouldallow this to happen again.
Mild Emphasis
Adverb in front of the verb
Strong Emphasis
Adverb & auxiliary verb in front of subject & main verb
ADVERB - INITIAL VERB PHRASE POSITION
ADVERB - INITIAL SENTENCE POSITION
Weneverhaveseen such a financial mess before.
Never haveweseen such a financial mess.
We never havehad to have a financial bailout before.
Never havewehad to have a financial bailout before.
Weneverexpect such a thing to happen.
Never didweexpect such a thing to happen.
Wenevershouldallow this to happen again.
Never shouldweallow this to happen again.
Practice 1
Traveling
Choose the adverbs or verbs that best complete the sentence. (The context of the sentences below is a person telling about travel experiences.)
Select the answer that best completes the sentence.