Grammar: B1 - ⚙️ Verbs in Depth: ⏳ Perfect & Continuous Tenses - Lesson 2: Present Perfect Simple - Use (Experiences with ever/never)

⚙️ Lesson 2: Present Perfect for Experiences (with 'ever' & 'never')

In our last lesson, we learned that the Present Perfect tense is great for talking about life experiences¹. In this lesson, we will focus specifically on two very important adverbs we use for this: ever and never. These words help us ask about experiences and talk about a lack² of experience.

Asking About Experiences with "Ever"

We use the adverb ever³ in questions to mean "at any time in your life." It is a very common and natural way to ask someone about their past experiences. The specific time is not important.

Structure: Have/Has + subject + ever + past participle...?

• "Have you ever visited Bokor Mountain?"
• "Has she ever tried fresh Kampot pepper?"
• The correct short answers are: "Yes, I have." or "No, I haven't."

Talking About a Lack of Experience with "Never"

When we want to say we have not had an experience at any time in our life, we use the adverb never⁴. It means "at no time" or "not ever."

Structure⁵: Subject + have/has + never + past participle...

• "I have never seen snow."
• "My friend has never been to Kep."
• Important: 'Never' is a negative word. Use it with a positive verb (have/has), not a negative one (haven't/hasn't). For example, I haven't never seen snow is incorrect.

Conversation Example in Kampot

Let's see how these words work in a natural conversation.

Anna: Have you ever kayaked on the Kampot river?
Bora: No, I haven't. I've never tried it, but I want to! Is it fun?
Anna: Yes! It's the best experience I have ever had here.

🧠 Practice Quiz: Ever or Never?

Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.

1. A: Have you ____ tried durian? B: No, I have ____.
   Answer: ever / never
2. My grandmother in the village has ____ travelled on an airplane.
   Answer: never
3. ____ you ever been to Koh Rong island?
   Answer: Have
4. This is the most delicious Khmer curry I have ____ eaten!
   Answer: ever
5. He has ____ forgotten my birthday. He always remembers.
   Answer: never

📝 Homework: Your Experiences

Write full sentences to answer the questions below.

1. Write a question for your friend using "Have you ever..." about a type of food.
   (Example: Have you ever eaten fried insects?)
   _________________________________________
2. Write a true sentence about yourself using "I have never..." about a place.
   (Example: I have never been to Europe.)
   _________________________________________
3. Answer this question with a full sentence: "Have you ever seen a movie in English without subtitles?"
   (Example: Yes, I have seen many movies in English without subtitles.)
   _________________________________________

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Experience: (Noun) - បទពិសោធន៍ (bât'pi'sao) - Something you have done in your life that gives you knowledge or skill. ↩
2. Lack (of): (Noun) - កង្វះ (kâng'vâh) - The state of not having something or not having enough of something. ↩
3. Ever: (Adverb) - ធ្លាប់ (tloăp) - At any time. Used in questions to ask about life experiences. ↩
4. Never: (Adverb) - មិនដែល (mĭn dael) - At no time in the past or future; not ever. ↩
5. Structure: (Noun) - រចនាសម្ព័ន្ធ (rô'châ'na'sâm'poan) - The arrangement of words in a sentence; the grammar rules. ↩