Do you ever wonder?

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Old Man Gordon

#347572 Thu, 05 Apr 07 08:53 PM

I was discussing the usage of 'ever' with a student.

How do we define the difference between do you ever and have you ever?

I assume the difference is whether or not you do something at this stage of your life, but who defines the stage, the asker or the answerer?

Old Man Gordon

Joined on Fri, Mar 16 2007

Ypsitucky, MI, USA

Full Member (258)

Difference between

Tidus

#347591 Thu, 05 Apr 07 09:57 PM

"Do you ever" refers to the present and future, "have you ever" refers to the past.

Tidus

Joined on Mon, Nov 27 2006

England

Full Member (362)

Yankee

#347638 Fri, 06 Apr 07 12:41 AM

Well, I disagree that "Do you ever wonder..." refers to only the present and future. "Do you ever wonder..." isn't all that different from any simple present tense question, in my opinion. To me it means basically the same thing as "Do you at times ask yourself..." and that includes the past.

Saying "Have you ever wondered..." asks whether there has been a time in the past that you wondered (about whatever is being discussed).

Just my two cents...

Yankee

Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006

Connecticut, USA

Senior Member (4,272)

Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain

CalifJim

#347639 Fri, 06 Apr 07 12:51 AM

I'm not sure how ever has anything to do with the difference between the present and the present perfect. It retains the same meaning regardless of tense.

The present has to be understood as including more time than just an instant.
The present perfect is meant to include all time up to the present.

ever means at any time.

So Do you ever ... means Do you -- at any time during your life as you are now living it ...
And Have you ever ... means Did you -- at any time during the past (at least once) ...

CJ