What is the meaning of “Never + past simple” vs did not+ verb1″ for denials?
It is possible to use ‘Never It’ in a dictionary. Please remember it. I have a question about this. Thanks. I have heard native speakers use’never’ when they want to negate something emphatically. And they use “never” instead of “did not verb1” to negate.
Hey john, did you tell Shyam that
you disliked me? John
Kelly: It’s a lie. I didn’t say anything to anyone. I’d never told someone. The story has me numb.
I can see a native speaker which uses “never” in the context of “did not say”. What is the best way to pronounce this? I would not use ” present perfect tense” in the context as I was referring to an event in the past.
- I never went to Australia but after getting a job I went to Sweden last year.
I think both forms can be used in the above context.
- I never was a good student when I was in school but I was good with drawing.
The ” never was” version is more emphatic but both forms are helpful. Can I use never instead of “did not verb1” when I want to negate particular events in past emphatically? Native speakers, I want your opinions.
Is either one or the other quite suitable? If you said I never went to Australia when I was a child but after getting a job I went there last year, this means, quite simply, that you haven’t been to Australia. If you used instead I did not go, this may be interpreted with another context, for example if you didn’t go but were taken against your use, or maybe there was an opportunity you didn’t take, but now you did after getting a job.
