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# never

adverb (never)

«never» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Never means not at any time, not even once. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#m1)
2. Never can also mean «not» in a strong way: «Never mind» means do not worry about it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#m2)
3. «Never ever» is a strong way to say never. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#m3)
4. (casual, UK, Ireland) «Never!» or «you never!» means I can't believe it: «He ate 12? Never!» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#m4)
5. (casual, UK) «I never» often means simply «I didn't» about one time: «I never touched it!» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#m5)
6. (rough) «Never in a million years» and «not never» (broken grammar) mean a strong no: «I ain't never doing that.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#m6)
7. (formal) «At no time», «on no occasion» and «under no circumstances» are the stiff forms: «Under no circumstances may the door be left open.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#m7)

### In the lessons

In maths: a word of the story; tells that something did not happen, so that amount is zero. In everyday life: rules and safety («never touch a hot stove», «never talk to strangers online»); habits and promises. In science: «never» is a strong claim that one counter-example can prove wrong. In stories: «Never had she seen such a big cake», «Never again!»; «never mind», «better late than never». In casual talk it is surprise or denial. In the exam voice: «at no time did…». Phrases: «never mind», «never again», «never ever», «now or never», «never say never».

### Examples

- She never eats the red candies. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#x1)
- He never misses a day of practice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#x2)
- Tom never spends his coins. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#x3)
- Never cross the road without looking both ways. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#x4)
- I have never been on a plane. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#x5)
- Never mind, we can try again tomorrow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#x6)
- A square never has five sides. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#x7)
- Better late than never! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#x8)
- «She got 20 out of 20.» «Never! Seriously?» (casual) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#x9)
- I never took your crisps, ask him (casual, means «I didn't») [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#x10)
- Never in a million years, mate — sod off. (rough) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#x11)
- At no time did the number of passengers exceed 40; state the maximum possible number. (formal exam) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/#x12)

### Note

«Never» means zero times; that amount stays the same. Trap: if he never eats the red ones, the red ones are not taken away. Opposite: always. Do not use another «not» with it: say «I never saw it», not «I never didn't see it»; «ain't never» is rough broken grammar. Casual «Never!» is surprise, not a number. Casual «I never did it» means «I did not do it» once, not «at no time ever». In science, be careful with «never»: one example the other way proves the claim wrong. Formal «at no time» = never; «did not exceed» means it was that number or less.

## In Jewish tradition

In the JPS Torah, "never so much" is old English for "however much". In the primary lessons: In maths: a word of the story; tells that something did not happen, so that amount is zero. In everyday life: rules and safety («never touch a hot stove», «never talk to strangers online»); habits and promises. In science: «never» is a strong claim that one counter-example can prove wrong. In stories: «Never had she seen such a big cake», «Never again!»; «never mind», «better late than never». In casual talk it is surprise or denial. In the exam voice: «at no time did…». Phrases: «never mind», «never again», «never ever», «now or never», «never say never».

### Examples

- Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me; but give me the damsel to wife.' (Torah GEN.34.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/never/#x1)
- And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill-favoured and lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness. (Torah GEN.41.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/never/#x2)
- For the poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I command thee, saying: 'Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy poor and needy brother, in thy land.' (Torah DEU.15.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/never/#x3)
- He that doeth these things shall never be moved. (Writings PSA.15.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/never/#x4)
- Now I had said in my security: 'I shall never be moved.' (Writings PSA.30.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/never/#x5)
- And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good. (Writings JOB.21.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/never/#x6)

### Note

«Never» means zero times; that amount stays the same. Trap: if he never eats the red ones, the red ones are not taken away. Opposite: always. Do not use another «not» with it: say «I never saw it», not «I never didn't see it»; «ain't never» is rough broken grammar. Casual «Never!» is surprise, not a number. Casual «I never did it» means «I did not do it» once, not «at no time ever». In science, be careful with «never»: one example the other way proves the claim wrong. Formal «at no time» = never; «did not exceed» means it was that number or less.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «never» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/never/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«never» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/never.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «never» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/never/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«never» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/never.html) on Mova free.