Use ever in questions to ask about life experiences, as in have you ever been to Canada, and never in affirmative-looking sentences to make them negative, as in I have never eaten octopus. Both words go right before the past participle and never combine with not.
Grammar Rule
Ever is used in questions and never in negatives (replacing not); both go right before the past participle.
Ever and Never with Present Perfect: Rules and Examples
| Word | Used in | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ever | questions | Have you ever been to Canada? Has she ever traveled alone? |
| never | negatives (replaces not) | I have never eaten octopus. We have never tried surfing. |
Remember: ever goes in questions, never replaces the negative, and both go right before the participle.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below using ever or never correctly with the present perfect. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Present Perfect Simple – Ever and Never
No necesitas registrarte para empezar. Al finalizar verás tu calificación de inmediato, y si quieres podrás agregar tu nombre para personalizar y descargar tu resultado.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do you use ever with the present perfect?
Use ever in questions to ask whether someone has had a certain experience at any point in their life, as in have you ever been to Canada.
How does never work with the present perfect?
Never replaces not to make a negative sentence, as in I have never eaten octopus, and it does not combine with haven’t or hasn’t in the same clause.
Where do ever and never go in the sentence?
Both go right before the past participle, after the auxiliary have or has, as in has she ever traveled alone or we have never tried surfing.
Can you answer a question with ever using never?
Yes, a question with ever, such as have you ever tried sushi, can naturally be answered with never, as in no, I have never tried it.