HOW TO USE EVEN ?



Even is an adverb. When a strong statement is made, the statement is often followed with an example containing „even”. We use "even" to refer to something surprising, unexpected, unusual or extreme. Examples:
He didn’t even have enough money to pay the rent.
I love that author, and I have all of his books - even the ones which are out of print.


---> EVEN: POSITION

When "even" refers to a whole clause or sentence, we usually put it in the normal mid position for adverbs, between the subject and the main verb, after the modal verb or first auxiliary verb, or after be as a main verb. Examples:
You can take an online course now and you even do the test online.
She hasn’t even started making supper.

We can put "even" or "not even" before the part of the clause or sentence we want to focus on. Examples:
Even a five-year-old can see that these figures don’t add up.
They came in cars, in lorries, and even an aeroplane.

We sometimes put "even" at the end of a clause or sentence in informal speaking. Compare:
I can’t remember him at all. I’ve even forgotten what he looks like. (typical position)
I can’t remember him at all. I’ve forgotten what he looks like even. (more informal, used in speaking)

---> EVEN and COMPARATIVES

We often use "even" with comparative adjectives and adverbs to add more emphasis. Example:
Mark played well last season and this season he has played even better. [talking about a footballer]

---> EVEN and ALSO

"Even" and "also" are both adverbs. We use „even” to add emphasis or more information to a surprising or unexpected thing. Example:
Human beings, we are told, will live for 150, even 200 years, by the end of the century.

We use „also” to add a new piece of information, without the suggestion that it is surprising. Example:
She was a very beautiful girl. She was also very bright and excelled at everything she did. (NOT: She was even very bright… )

Compare:
He gave her a cake with 20 candles on. He even sang ‘Happy Birthday’. (The fact that he sang ‘Happy Birthday’ was unexpected.)

He gave her a cake with 20 candles on. He also sang ‘Happy Birthday’. (He did two things: he gave her a cake and he sang.)

---> EVEN though / EVEN when / EVEN if

"Even" can be combined with the words "though," "when" and "if." It emphasizes that a result is unexpected. Study the following examples and explanations to learn how these expressions differ. Examples:

Even though Mark studied very hard, he still failed his English tests.
(Mark ALWAYS studied hard. But, unfortunately, he failed the tests.)

Even when Mark studied very hard, he still failed his English tests.
(Mark OCCASIONALLY studied hard, but it didn’t really make a difference. Every time he studied, he still failed.)

Even if Mark studied very hard, he still failed his English tests. (Mark didn’t NORMALLY study very hard. But in the RARE situation when he did try to study hard, he still failed the test.)

Note: These expressions are not always interchangeable; the context of the sentence will affect your choice.
"Even though" is used when something is ALWAYS done or a fact is mentioned. (even though means the same as although, ‘in spite of the fact that’. We use it to say that something may not be what we expect. Even though gives more emphasis than although.
"Even when" is used when something is OCCASIONALLY done.
"Even if" is used when something is RARELY done or just IMAGINED.
Examples:

CORRECT: Even though the interview went terribly yesterday, Mary got the job. (the interview went terribly, but she got the job)

NOT CORRECT: Even when the interview went terribly yesterday, Mary got the job. (this sentence is incorrect because the interview did not go terribly more than one time, there was only one interview so "when" is not right word for this sentence.)

CORRECT: Even if the interview went terribly yesterday, Mary got the job. (you have not talked to Mary since her interview. You imagine that the interview went terribly, but you think she probably go the job anyway.)

REMEMBER !!!
The meaning and context of the sentence is very important when deciding whether to use "even though," "even when" or "even if".

---> EVEN so

We use "even so" to make a contrast, to mean 'despite something'. It has a similar meaning to however or nevertheless but "even so" is different in that it is used with surprising or unexpected results. It is most common in front position in the clause but we can also use it in end position. It often occurs after but. Examples:

Mary is loud and unfriendly. Even so, I like her. (Mary is loud and unfriendly, so it is unexpected that I like her.)
The bed is extremely large and heavy. Even so, Mark managed to carry it into the house by himself. (It is unexpected that Mark could carry the bed by himself
I know you don’t like her, but you should say hello to her even so.

Thanks for reading !!

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