Evenis an adverb.
We useevento refer to something surprising, unexpected, unusual or extreme:
He didn’tevenhave enough money to pay the rent.
You love me,evenafter the terrible things I’ve done?
I’d never been abroad before, so it was a wonderful gift. I didn’t have to pay for anything. When we got to the airport at Stansted, she’devenarranged for the captain to escort me on to the plane. It was a treat I will always remember.
Even: position
Whenevenrefers 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 afterbeas a main verb:
You can take an online course now and youevendo the test online.
I haven’tevenstarted making dinner.
It’s a really useful book if you’re interested in cameras. There’sevena chapter on buying second-hand ones.
We can putevenornot evenbefore the part of the clause or sentence we want to focus on:
Evena five-year-old can see that these figures don’t add up.
They came in cars, in lorries, andevenan aeroplane.
[talking about a local swimming pool]
It’s not usually too busy. Notevenat weekends.
We sometimes putevenat the end of a clause or sentence in informal speaking.
| typical position |
| more informal, used in speaking |
See also:
Adverbs and adverb phrases: position
Evenand comparatives
We often useevenwith comparative adjectives and adverbs to add more emphasis:
It is six years since U2 played in Belfast in 1987 on their world-conquering Joshua Tree tour. Since then they have becomeevenbigger and richer, and their concertsevenmore popular.
[talking about a footballer]
Frank played well last season and this season he has playedevenbetter.
Evenandalso
Evenandalsoare both adverbs.
We useevento add emphasis or more information to a surprising or unexpected thing:
Human beings, we are told, will live for 150,even200 years, by the end of the century.
We usealsoto add a new piece of information, without the suggestion that it is surprising:
She was a very beautiful girl. She wasalsovery bright and excelled at everything she did.
Not:She was even very bright…
| The fact that he sang ‘Happy Birthday’ was unexpected. |
| He did two things: he gave her a cake and he sang. |
See also:
Even
Also,as wellortoo?
As well (as)
Eventhoughandeven if
We can useevenwiththoughandif.
Even thoughmeans the same asalthough, ‘in spite of the fact that’. We use it to say that something may not be what we expect.Even thoughgives more emphasis thanalthough:
[talking about a football team]
I think they’re fantastic,even thoughthey haven’t won any games this season.
We useevenbeforeifto refer to a possible unexpected or extreme event:
I’m still going to go swimming in the seaeven ifit rains.(I don’t expect rain but it is possible.)
I’ve got to get homeeven ifit means flying the plane myself.(I’ve got to get home and I’ll do anything to get there.)
See also:
Althoughorthough?
If
Even so
We useeven soto make a contrast, to mean ‘despite something’. It has a similar meaning tohoweverornevertheless.
It is most common in front position in the clause but we can also use it in end position. It often occurs afterbut:
Their holiday went well but,even so, they longed to be home again with the children.
[parent to child, getting into a car]
You do need your seatbelt on. Put it on please. I know it’s not very far, buteven so. If we have an accident you’ll need it.
I know you don’t like her, but you should say hello to hereven so.