Monday, March 27, 2017

Don't ever vs Never

I don't ever go / I never go


Either sentence is acceptable. However, be aware that the different forms "don't ever" and "never" usually have slightly different connotations. When spoken without emphasis, "never" is a simple statement of fact. To say "I never take the bus," says nothing about why you don't - it might well be that you just like to walk and the distance is short, for instance. To say "I don't ever take the bus", since you have chosen a more cumbersome phrase, suggests that you specifically avoid taking the bus, and that there is some strong motivation on your part for doing so.
Similarly, when using the phrases as part of a prohibition, "Don't (you) ever say that," is a stronger command than "Never say that," and the first suggests that if you do "say that" then the speaker will be personally upset with you.
At least, that's the AmE way I've always heard it used.

http://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/61610/i-dont-ever-go-i-never-go

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