Grammar in use: Present perfect + ever/never

Have you ever taken dance classes?

Welcome to Part 2 of the Present Perfect series!

Click here for Part 1 – learning how to make the Present Perfect.

Use the present perfect + ever to ask questions about experiences in someone’s life.

• “Have you ever taken dance classes?”
  “Yes, I have. I took 6 weeks of lessons before my wedding!”
• “Has your brother ever been to India?”
  “No, he hasn’t.”
• “Have your friends ever helped you move to a new apartment?”
  “Yes – twice!”

Don’t use ever in the answer. Only use it in questions.

If you want, you can use before in the answer:

• Yes, I’ve ever taken dance classes.
  Yes, I’ve taken dance classes before.

Use the present perfect + never to talk about things you have NOT done at any time in your life.

• I’ve never failed a test. I’ve always gotten 80% or more.
• He’s never heard of Michael Jackson. I can’t believe he doesn’t know the King of Pop!
• Samantha has never been surfing. She’s afraid of the ocean.
• We’ve never studied Italian. We studied French and Spanish in school, but Italian wasn’t available.
• They’ve never told a lie. I know we can trust them.

Conversation Tip:

Many conversations begin with a question in the present perfect, and then continue with more specific questions about the experience in the simple past:

• “Have you ever taken dance classes?”
• “Yes, I have. I took 6 weeks of lessons before my wedding last year.”
• “Wow! So did you dance well on the big day?”
• “No, I didn’t – I forgot everything I’d learned in the classes, and I stepped on my wife’s feet many times!”
• “Oh no! Was she angry?”
• “No – she said she still loved me!”

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